Naturally fermented turmeric soda is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy the health benefits of turmeric. Turmeric soda is an easy natural soda recipe made using a ginger bug. It’s vibrant, healthy, and tastes delicious!
Fermenting Turmeric for Soda
You might remember a while back I made a turmeric bug, which is basically a “starter” for making fermented sodas.
The turmeric bug started bubbling away very quickly, within only a few days, which was really exciting.
That means it’s time to make a naturally fermented turmeric soda!
This is similar to how one would make a traditional ginger beer using a ginger bug, but with turmeric root instead.
How to Make Fermented Turmeric Soda
The first step in making this recipe is to get a turmeric bug going. Once you have at least ½ cup or more of bubbling turmeric bug starter, then you can proceed with this recipe.
The ginger and peppercorns are optional, but recommended ingredients. I think the ginger gives it a little bit more flavor, and the peppercorns increase the bioavailability of the turmeric.
I think that 1 cup of sugar is perfect, but you may want to add a little more if you like things on the sweeter side.
Make the Turmeric Soda Base
Bring the turmeric root, ginger, and peppercorns to a boil in about two quarts (8 cups) of filtered water.
Simmer for at least 30 minutes to make a strong turmeric tea.
Let it cool a bit, then strain out the spices.
Put the turmeric tea into a wide mouth gallon glass jar (make sure it’s not too hot as to break the glass), add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Fill up the jar with cold filtered water, leaving several inches of head space.
Once the mixture has completely come down to room temperature, add the turmeric bug and stir well.
If you want to keep your turmeric bug going, leave a few tablespoons out and continue feeding it as described in my post on how to make a turmeric bug.
Cover the jar with cheesecloth or a clean towel attached with a rubberband.
Ferment the Turmeric Soda
Put the jar in a dark and quiet corner of your kitchen. Check on it daily and give it a good stir. It should start bubbling within the first day or two.
Since it was fairly cold in my kitchen, I let the soda ferment for about 3-4 days. In warmer temps it may only take a day or two.
Bottle the Turmeric Soda
Once you are ready to bottle the turmeric soda, first strain out the pieces of turmeric that were from the bug.
Then use a funnel to transfer the soda into flip top bottles. Let the bottles sit at room temperature for a few days to a few weeks to build up carbonation.
Again, if it is warm out it will only take a few days to build up carbonation, and if it’s cold it may take a week or two.
Be sure to check the pressure by opening a bottle every couple of days to make sure that they aren’t building up too much to cause an explosion!
Refrigerate once the fermented turmeric soda is to your liking.
My soda has been sitting in the bottles for about a week, and some carbonation has built up.
I tend to like mine really fizzy though, so I’m going to let them sit for a few more days before I refrigerate them.
This fermented turmeric soda turned out absolutely delicious! I love the turmeric flavor, it’s interesting and different, but quite good.
It’s so nice to have a healthy and homemade alternative to regular store bought sodas, with the added benefit of anti-inflammatory turmeric.
Have you ever made a naturally fermented soda? What is your favorite flavor?
Naturally Fermented Soda Recipes
Here are some more naturally fermented soda recipes for you to try.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Soda
- Fermented Root Beer
- Fermented Elderberry Soda
- Elderberry Soda
- Sweet Potato Kvass
- Kefir Soda
- Winter Herb Kvass
Fermented Turmeric Soda
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6" piece fresh turmeric peeled and sliced
- 1" piece fresh ginger peeled and sliced (optional)
- 1 tsp black peppercorns (optional)
- 14-16 cups filtered water
- 1 cup sugar or more to taste
- 1/2 cup turmeric bug
Instructions
- Place the turmeric root, ginger, and peppercorns in a medium pot along with 8 cups of filtered water. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat, then cool slightly (just until it's not hot enough to crack a glass jar). Strain the turmeric tea into a wide mouth gallon jar.
- Add the sugar to the turmeric tea and stir to dissolve.
- Add additional filtered water to the jar, leaving 2-3" inches of headspace. Cool to room temperature.
- Add the turmeric bug to the cooled turmeric tea, then stir well. Cover the jar with cheesecloth secured with a rubber band.
- Place the jar in a dark corner. Stir once a day. It should start bubbling within a day or two. Ferment to taste, anywhere from 1-2 days in a warmer spot to 3-4 days in a cooler location.
- When you're ready to bottle, strain the soda to filter out the pieces from the turmeric bug. Use a funnel to transfer the soda into flip top bottles. Set the bottles aside at room temperature for a few days to a few weeks to build up carbonation. Refrigerate once fermented to your preference.
Do you strain the turmeric bug before adding to soda mixture?
Hi, Anne. No, the entire unstrained turmeric bug is added to the soda mixture.
Would honey work instead of sugar?
Sure, that should work.
How to make the bug
Here is my post on how to make a turmeric bug.
Any reason why it has to go into flip top bottles as opposed to screw caps?
Sounds like a lovely place to use some of the honey form any of your honey ferments or the fruit for that matter. I’ve been rationing my honey fermented cranberries….so many uses so few cranberries.
Flip tops are designed to withstand the pressure that can build up within the bottle, so screw caps aren’t really an option here. Your other option is to use beer bottles with a bottle capper tool.
Mine isn’t bubbling that much for some reason. Is that okay?
Can the aromatics be steeped multiple times for subsequent batches?
Has anyone tried adding other spices? I am thinking of adding maybe cardamom, cinnamon or other curry spices. Thoughts?
I just started a bug yesterday. At the tea stage, I was going to throw in a couple cinnamon sticks. Those flavors are good in other dishes/drinks, so my guess is it should be ok.