Chamomile Rosehip, Turmeric Tea

Turmeric is a pungent Asian spice with a fascinating heritage. The fleshy root of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa) is dried and ground to produce a finely powdered spice with a lustrous golden colour. As well as being an essential ingredient in Indian curries, turmeric also plays an important role in traditional Ayurvedic philosophy.

One of the most notable compounds found in turmeric is curcumin. As well as giving turmeric its saffron colouring, curcumin is extracted from turmeric root and sold as a popular dietary supplement. Curcumin is even more effective when combined with black pepper. To boost the bioavailability of the curcumin in our Taka Turmeric products, many of our recipes feature a pinch of black pepper.

 Chamomile, or Matricaria chamomilla in Latin, is a well-known medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family often referred to as the “star among medicinal species.” Nowadays it is a highly favored and much used medicinal plant in folk and traditional medicine.

As for us, chamomile is essential for making a relaxing, well balanced tea, perfect for unwinding after a hard day!

Scarlet rose hips are a common sight in European hedgerows at the end of summer. Hips are the seed pods of wild roses. After the roses bloom, the petals fall away, leaving the hips to ripen in the waning sun.

In the recent past, rose hips were collected for home jam-making, herbal teas and winemaking. Rose hips are a great source of vitamin C, and have a natural fruity sweetness.We use organically sourced rose hips to add luscious juiciness to our ginger lemon tea.

Honeybush grows naturally throughout South Africa – particularly the Western Cape – where it’s been used for centuries by indigenous populations. It is a close relative to Rooibos, although is has a more delicate flavour of subtle-sweet floral and undertones of soft wood and honey.

It’s a surprising fact that Orange trees aren’t found growing naturally in the wild. All modern orange trees can trace their ancestry back to China, under the reign of the mythical Yellow Emperor, around 2500 BC.

While the juice of the orange is deliciously sweet, orange peel is rich in perfumed essential oils. Orange peel oils have a bittersweet, tart flavour. The oils also carry more of the zingy citrus aroma that make oranges so temptingly fragrant.

It takes expert blending to harmonise the bittersweet perfume of organic orange peel with the exquisite spices in our fruity Taka tea recipes! 

Coconut palms thrive along India's tropical coastlines, where they've been a cornerstone of daily life and cooking for generations. The desiccated coconut we use comes from organically grown coconuts, grated and gently dried to preserve their natural sweetness and creamy character.

The best desiccated coconut has a subtle, milky sweetness and a delicate texture that adds a lovely depth to herbal blends. It brings a gentle creaminess to the cup, softening the earthy notes of turmeric and creating a naturally smooth, rounded flavour.

Coconut is naturally caffeine-free and contains natural oils that help your body absorb turmeric's beneficial compounds more effectively. Its mild, comforting flavour makes it a beautiful pairing with warming spices, adding a touch of tropical sweetness to every sip.

There are various types of pepper which can be used to add warming flavours to foodstuffs and drinks. In our Taka tea recipes, we use the crushed, dried corns of Piper nigrum.

The hot, spicy flavour of black pepper comes from a natural compound called piperine. As well as making our spiced teas deliciously moreish and stimulating, piperine also has a special digestive synergy with turmeric.

Along with turmeric, our signature ingredient, you’ll often find a warming pinch of black pepper in many of our Taka spiced tea recipes.