A simple recipe for Jamu, a traditional Indonesian herbal drink full of anti-inflammatory and healing w. It’s a juice made with turmeric, ginger, black pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice, sweetened with honey. Jamu can be served chilled as a refreshing cold drink in the summer months or served as a hot tea in winter.
While in Bali last spring, we discovered the most wonderful healing drink, called Jamu. It is an all-natural, anti-inflammatory drink that soothes and restores the body. It’s straightforward to make, and very often, I’ll make a quick batch on Sunday and then drink it during the week. It’s also very soothing if you have a cold, served hot before bedtime.
What is Jamu?
Jamu is a healing juice that originates from Indonesia, soothes inflammation, aids in digestion, prevents nausea, and brings balance to the body. There are many varieties of this healing herbal root infusion. This version, the most common in Bali, is made with fresh turmeric root, ginger root, and a little back pepper, sweetened with honey, and finished with a squeeze of lemon. Jamu tastes very refreshing and pleasantly tangy with a peppery bite. during the hot months yet soothing and warming during the cold months.
Turmeric contains curcumin and has a particularly soothing effect on tired, achy muscles and joints, relieving aches and pains after workouts and hikes. It contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that soothe arthritis and, in my opinion, work just as well as Advil without any side effects or harm to the liver. Natural medicine!
Jamu Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Turmeric Root – fresh turmeric roots is nice here, and I highly suggest you seek it out, but ground turmeric powder works, too, in a pinch (see notes).
- Fresh Ginger Root – fresh ginger, again is recommended, but ground ginger powder can work in ap inch (see notes).
- Black Pepper- black pepper is added to activate the turmeric and make it more bioavailable.
- Honey (or Maple syrup or another alternative sweetener)- honey is traditional but feel free to swap it out for your favorite sweetener, agave, coconut sugar, etc.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – or other citrus- lime juice, orange juice, etc.
- Filtered water 0or coconut water
How to make Jamu
Blender instructions:
Scrub and wash the turmeric and ginger. Slice the turmeric and ginger into thin disks (no need to peel), place in a blender, and add 2 cups water. Blend for about 1 minute. Let stand 5 minutes. Strain into a quart jar, and add the remaining two cups of water. Stir in the pepper. You can either add the sweetener and citrus to the jar, or add to your glass when serving.
Juicer Instructions:
Scrub and wash the turmeric and ginger roots. Juice the whole roots (no need to peel). You should end up with about 1 cup of golden liquid combined. Add 1 cup water to the juicer to extract more of the juice. Place this in a quart jar, pitcher or container. Feel free to fill the quart jar with water, on. stirring in the pepper, sweetening with honey and squeezing with lemon.
I usually make a double batch- this two-quart jar that holds 8 cups of Jamu. I find Brian, and I can quickly go through this healing tonic in one week during the summer months, drinking it cold, straight from the refrigerator.
If it tastes too strong for you, you can always dilute it with water, coconut water or sparkling water. A squeeze of orange is nice too!
And in the winter, we heat up the Jamu and drink it like hot tea at night before bed. In cold and flu season, this is also really soothing for sore throats and colds.
Jamu juice can be made in a blender or in your juicer– and either way, I know you’ll love its healing effects! Enjoy the Jamu juice and let me know what you think in the comments below!
More recipes you’ll love!
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- London Fog Latte
- 10 Healing Turmeric Recipes (Plus Top Health Benefits)
- Turmeric Lemonade
- Turmeric Broth Detox Soup {Ayurvedic + Healing}
- Turmeric Tea (Ayurvedic Detox Tea)
- Moroccan Sore Throat Tea
Jamu Recipe (Turmeric Ginger Juice)
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups
- Category: drink, juice, turmeric
- Method: juiced, blended
- Cuisine: Balinese
- Diet: Vegan
Description
How to make Jumu, an Indonesian drink made with fresh turmeric and ginger root, honey (or maple) pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. This anti-inflammatory juice can be served chilled or hot like tea.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh turmeric roots, rinsed, no need to peel
- 3/4 cup fresh ginger roots, rinsed, no need to peel
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups filtered water or coconut water
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple to taste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, lime or citrus to taste
Instructions
- If making in a blender, slice the turmeric and ginger into thin disks (leave skin on) place in a blender and add 2 cups water. Blend for about 1 minute. Let stand 5 minutes, strain into bowl, then pour into a quart jar, add remaining two cups of water. Stir in the pepper, honey and lemon, adjusting to taste.
- If using an electric juicer, juice whole roots. You should end up with about 1 cup of golden liquid combined. Add a little water to the juicer to extract more of the juice. Place this in a quart jar, pitcher or container. Feel free to fill the quart jar with water, and add black pepper, honey ancnd lemon juice. Adjust to taste.
Notes
Ground Spices: If using ground turmeric powder and ground ginger powder, stir in 2 teaspoons of each to start (in 4 cups water) with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons honey. Feel free to add more to taste.
If stirring in honey in to a cold liquid, mix it with a little warm water first, to thin, then pour this into the jar.
To serve cold, stir, then pour over ice if you prefer. If too concentrated, feel free to dilute with more water or sparking water. To serve warm, gently heat on the stove until it just comes to a simmer, and serve in a mug.
Instead of sweetener, you could use fruit juice instead- apple juice or pineapple juice is nice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 33
- Sugar: 5.2 g
- Sodium: 7 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Hope this isn’t a stupid question but are the ginger and turmeric measurements whole or after slicing? This look good can’t wait to try.
Hi Greg, The measurements are for sliced- it is okay if it is a little more or less. Very reasonable question! 🙂