Turmeric
Turmeric and ginger: why the two roots go together
Turmeric and ginger turn up together everywhere, in curries, in teas and in a shot. Here's why the two roots pair so naturally, what each brings in flavour and in its active compounds and what the research on the combination has actually looked at.
Why turmeric and ginger go together
They're cousins, for a start. Turmeric and ginger both come from the same plant family and you can see it in the roots: knobbly, aromatic and grown the same way. Cooks across South Asia and beyond have used them side by side for centuries and that long partnership is the reason the pairing feels so familiar the moment you taste it.
In the glass it's the same idea. Turmeric brings depth and an earthy warmth, ginger brings brightness and a bit of heat and together they balance each other out. That's exactly what's going on in our Ginger Turmeric Shot, where the two roots do the work and citrus and a little honey round it off.
What each root brings
Turmeric is the earthy one. It's warm, slightly bitter and deeply savoury, the flavour behind the colour of a good curry and on its own it can be a touch heavy. Ginger is the lively one, sharp and warming with a citrusy bite that wakes everything up. Put them together and the ginger lifts the turmeric while the turmeric grounds the ginger.
| Root | Flavour | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Turmeric | Earthy, warm, slightly bitter | Depth, colour and a savoury base |
| Ginger | Sharp, zingy, warming | Brightness and a bit of heat |
| Together | Balanced, warming, rounded | Each keeps the other in check |
More than flavour: what's in each root
Look past the taste and each root carries its own family of active compounds. Turmeric's headline compound is curcumin, the pigment behind its colour and the part most of the research focuses on. Ginger's are the gingerols and shogaols, the pungent compounds that give it its bite. These are the reasons both roots have been studied so heavily and the reason they're interesting side by side rather than just tasty.
What's genuinely worth knowing is that researchers haven't only looked at them separately. A study on ginger and turmeric extracts together reported that the combination was more effective at reducing inflammatory markers in the lab than either root on its own and pointed to ginger's shogaols alongside curcumin as the leading compounds. It's early, lab-stage work using concentrated extracts rather than a drink, so read it as the science behind the pairing rather than a claim about a shot. But it does suggest the two roots are more than the sum of their parts, which is a nice echo of what cooks worked out by taste centuries ago.
On absorption, a quick word to keep you straight, because there's a lot of loose talk online. The ingredient with real research behind it for helping the body take up curcumin is black pepper, not ginger, which is why pepper is in the shot and why we cover it in turmeric and black pepper. Ginger earns its place here for its own compounds and for how the pair has been studied together, not as an absorption aid.
How to use them together
The pairing is endlessly useful. Grate both into a curry or dal, simmer them into a soup, or steep slices in hot water with lemon and honey for a warming drink. They work in a stir-fry, in a marinade, in rice and of course pressed together into a shot. Black pepper almost always joins the party, because turmeric and pepper are their own classic pairing, which we cover in turmeric and black pepper.
A couple of practical notes. Both roots stain, turmeric especially, so a board and fingers will turn yellow and it's worth minding a light worktop. And a little goes a long way, particularly with the ginger, so start modest and build up to taste. If you'd rather skip the grating and the orange fingers, a ready-pressed shot does the pairing for you.
A pairing to enjoy, not a remedy
Turmeric and ginger go together because they taste good together and always have and that's reason enough. Both are foods, not supplements or medicines, so enjoy the pairing for the flavour and the tradition rather than treating it as a remedy. If you're on medication, pregnant or managing a condition, turmeric can interact with some medicines, so check with your GP before making a daily habit of it.
The pairing, ready-pressed
If you want turmeric and ginger together without the grating, here's the range. All cold-pressed from whole root and delivered frozen, or browse the full cold-pressed shots.
Frequently Asked
Why are turmeric and ginger used together?
Mostly because they taste great together and always have. They're from the same plant family and have been cooked side by side for centuries. Turmeric brings earthy depth, ginger brings brightness and heat and each balances the other, which is why the pairing turns up in everything from curries to shots.
What does turmeric and ginger taste like together?
Warm, rounded and a little spicy. The ginger lifts the earthy turmeric and adds a zingy heat, while the turmeric grounds the ginger so it isn't too sharp. Citrus and a touch of honey, as in our shot, soften the whole thing.
How do you use fresh turmeric and ginger in cooking?
Grate both into curries, dals, soups and stir-fries, steep slices in hot water with lemon and honey, or add them to a marinade or rice. Start modest, especially with the ginger and remember turmeric stains, so mind your board and worktop.
Is it better to have turmeric and ginger together or separately?
On flavour it's down to taste, together they're balanced, on its own turmeric is earthier, which is why we do a turmeric-only shot as well as the pairing. On the research side, studies have looked at the two together and reported the combination reducing inflammatory markers in the lab more than either alone, though that's early work with extracts rather than a drink.
Does ginger help you absorb turmeric?
You'll see this claimed a lot, but the ingredient with real research behind it for curcumin absorption is black pepper, not ginger. Ginger's value in the pairing is its own active compounds, the gingerols and shogaols and the fact the two roots have been studied together. So the pepper is the absorption partner, the ginger is a partner in its own right.
Do turmeric and ginger need black pepper too?
Black pepper is the traditional companion to turmeric and it usually joins the pairing, in cooking and in a shot. There's a real research angle to it as well, which we cover in turmeric and black pepper.
Can you have turmeric and ginger every day?
For most people both are everyday foods, so a daily shot or a regular place in your cooking is fine. If you're on medication, pregnant or managing a condition, check with your GP first, since turmeric can interact with some medicines.
The bottom line
Turmeric and ginger go together because they're a natural match, earthy depth meeting bright heat, backed by centuries of cooking them side by side. Whether you grate them into dinner or drink them pressed into a shot, the pairing works because each root makes the other better. Enjoy it for the flavour and the tradition.
Our Ginger Turmeric Shot does the pairing for you and the full turmeric hub has the rest.
Where to buy
Browse the full cold-pressed juice shots range, or go straight to a favourite: Turmeric Shots, Ginger Turmeric, the Ginger & Turmeric Bundle or the Juice Shot Variety Box.
Related reading
- Fresh turmeric vs turmeric powder
- How to take a turmeric shot
- When to take a turmeric shot
- Turmeric shots and workout recovery
- Can you take a turmeric shot every day
- Turmeric shot vs golden milk vs tea
- Cold-pressed turmeric shots vs shop-bought
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