Thank you! This vibrant orange wellness drink is packed with ingredients that are fantastic for combatting inflammation. Pineapple is rich in bromelain, and papaya contains papain—both are natural enzymes known to help reduce swelling and inflammation in tissues. Paired with fresh ginger, turmeric, and warm spices, this is an incredibly soothing tonic for your joints.
Ingredients
The Tropical Fruits: 2 cups fresh pineapple (chopped), 1 cup fresh papaya (peeled and seeded)
The Citrus: 2 to 3 mandarins or clementines (peeled)
The Root Spices: 2-inch piece of fresh ginger root, 1-inch piece of fresh turmeric root (or 1 teaspoon turmeric powder)
The Whole Spices: 1 to 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon whole cloves
The Liquid: 4 cups filtered water
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Produce
Chop your fresh pineapple and papaya into chunks. Peel the mandarins, separating the segments. Roughly slice the fresh ginger and turmeric roots (no need to peel them if they are organic, as they will be strained later).
Step 2: Extract the Base Juice
Blend or juice the fresh papaya, mandarins, ginger, and turmeric with a splash of water until a vibrant, thick orange base is formed.
Step 3: Simmer with Whole Spices
In a medium pot, combine the remaining chopped pineapple, the cinnamon sticks, and the whole cloves. Pour the blended orange juice base and the 4 cups of filtered water over the top. Bring the mixture to a very gentle boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to infuse the spices.
Step 4: Strain and Cool
Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool slightly. Pour the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl or pitcher to catch the spent pineapple pieces, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Press down on the solids to squeeze out every drop of flavor.
Step 5: Bottle and Serve
Pour the beautiful golden-orange elixir into clean glass bottles and chill the drink in the refrigerator. Serve it cold over ice, or gently reheat a mug of it on a chilly morning!