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!
- The Best Masala Chai
- 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
LOVE! Easy to make, delicious, hydrating and great for digestion. I struggle to drink enough water and suffer from IBS. This is perfect 🙏
So glad it is helpful G!
Thank you for introducing me to Jamu! I made this for an Indonesian dinner party. I researched a lot of websites in order to understand the various types of Jamu. I ended up reducing the amount of ginger relative to turmeric, but I think I will increase the ginger next time. Since I find it difficult to measure out volumes of turmeric and ginger, I ended up using weight measurements that I found elsewhere. I also boiled my turmeric root for 10 minutes before slicing, after reading that this can reduce the raw taste, but doesn’t affect the health benefits.
I used 125 gm turmeric root, 50 gm ginger root, black pepper, coconut water, honey, keffir lime leaves, cinnamon and nutmeg. I add about 1/4 cup to a glass of coconut water and ice. Delicious!
Oh interesting Karen! Your formula sounds good!!
Love this! So easy to make. I could feel positive effects on my body right after drinking a cup. Thank you for this tasty and healthy recipe!
Great to hear Karey!
So good! Filling too. First time cooking/eating lentils. Will definitely make again!
Side note: I did need to add extra dressing next day.
Hey Jenny- I think you meant this for another recipe- really curious which one!
Your instruction is not very clear. So your portion is daily as you add water both to the jar in the fridge & the mug you are going to drink now or you make 1 concentrated portion & scoop out 1 tsp/1 tbsp & add water in the mug you are going to drink?
So after blending you strain the liquid & put into the jar & put into fridge; so you compost the fibre bit right? What else can these be used?
If to be reuse put into fridge or freezer?
Hi Odelia, sorry, I updated the recipe to make it more clear. You can add the pulp to curries and stews and soups or feel free to reuse.
Sounds like a good drink. It’s good also with tamarind Root That has been cooked down and then you put everything into a blender out a little bit of sea salt and a little bit of black pepper and if you wanna have something extra with it just to take a little bitterness away some jaggery Sugar Would be good.
Sounds intriguing Peter!
Love this juice. Only thing is can I take this like everyday. I take a shot every morning b 4 work sets me up for the day.. I am on my second bottle. Is there a cut off point or can I take this like I take vitamins
As with everything, listen to your body. If you feel good taking it, it is probably OK. 🙂
Made this today and it was very good
I found another recipe that boils the turmeric and ginger after blending. Seems this would lose the vitamins. Yours doesn’t cook at all. Which is the typical and best version?
This was the way I was taught in Bali- but I think boiling sounds fine too? I will try that. 😉
I just used the roots… yum! It was a bit rough on my juicer but I will make this again. May try it with seltzer water to kick it up.
Thanks again! 😊
Perfect Kitty!
Hi my store doesn’t carry turmeric roots, will ground turmeric powder powder work?
Yes, that is fine to use ground turmeric!
Hi Sylvia, sounds like a great recipe, have read other one and they heat the mixture before sieving it off. Doesn”t that diminish the nutrients/
Thanks
I think it is fine heated, just do not boil it. 😉
Delicious, I drink this hot just before bed and have a really good night’s sleep.
Me too! It has been a godsend this winter!
What is the weight equivalent to the volume measurements?
3 ounces Turmeric root and 4 ounces Ginger root. 🙂
I’ve been making the Jamu juice for a couple of months now and it’s good. Me and my husband drink it hot. We can feel the effects.
Great to hear Hattie! I enjoy this hot as well!
I haven’t made your recipe yet am going to try it,,I to went to Bali and staye at the Ayana resort which was just beautiful,there we had Jamu juice every morning,so I asked the chef for his recipe ,and this one he gave me just has Tumeric and tamarind in it and is very good to
That sounds good too Val!
The taste is not bad. Just started using it. Waiting to feel the effects. When is the best time of day to drink it? Also should be drank on an empty stomach or with food? Should or can I drink it more than once a day?
I’m not sure there is a best time- anytime is good! Though you don’t need to drink it on an empty stomach, I feel like it works faster if my stomach is not too full of food. An empty stomach is great too. You can drink it more than once a day if in pain. I dilute and drink with sparkling water. Or if I have a lot of aches and pains- I drink it straight- full strength. Just see how you feel and listen to your own body.
Thanks a lot, wonder if it is a good idea to make ice cubes with the juice and dissolve it in water when needed? I just made some juice with the extractor ( i put one 100 gr of curcuma for 300 gr of ginger and diluted some of it with water in a glass but I found it very very strong!!! Maybe I should have put less of the juice..
Yes, it is strong- but you can dilute to taste. 🙂 Freezing is a great idea though!
I’ve looked at a few recipes and they all simmer the roots in the coconut water. So my question is , does the hot liquid reduce the anti inflammatory properties of the roots or damage it? I’m a little confused
It is a good question and I honestly don’t know the answer to that. In Bali, I didn’t see them heating it. Just blending and straining in water. I do know when I drink it hot, I can still feel the effects.
Can you freeze the jamu?
I think it should freeze fine!
My sister-in-law is from Indonesia,she was sharing her grandmother is over 100 and her skin is beautiful, I think this is the magic elixir. Takes it daily
I made it/ shared with a friend.Delicious!
Hello! This recipe is amazing!
Thank you. I wanted to ask if there is any use for the residual paste of turmeric and ginger after straining?
Sometimes I’ll add it to things like soups? If you blend it really fine, it is not too terrible ingesting some of it in the juice too.
I saw this on social media and compared it to your recipe, it was the same and
DE-Lish! I plan to have at least 2 shots per day until it’s gone. Can you tell me whether or not the juice expires after a week or 7 days?
Thanks!
Yes, it lasts up to a week in the fridge. 🙂
Hi. How much pineapple juice can I put in?
I guess as much as you like?
Hi, how much should i drink per day? A glass? A shot? a certain amount of millilitres? Thanks
Hi Johnny, there are no “shoulds” here. If you feel a lot of inflammation, drink a few small ( 4-6 oz) glasses a day, see how you feel, and increase or decrease accordingly.