Nitrate & Nitrite Free Turmeric-Cinnamon Cucumber Lemon Cooler
This vibrant chilled drink is everything you want on a warm day — cool, lightly fizzy, and layered with unexpected warmth from turmeric and cinnamon. Fresh cucumber is blended and strained into a silky juice that forms the base, then brightened with real lemon juice and a touch of honey for natural sweetness. The tiny pinch of black pepper isn't an accident — it helps the turmeric absorb properly and gives the whole drink a subtle, pleasant kick. Because every single ingredient here is a whole food or spice, there's nothing processed lurking in the glass, which makes it a genuinely clean choice for anyone avoiding preservatives like nitrates and nitrites that can sneak into flavored drinks, packaged mixes, and even some bottled juices. The sparkling water finish lifts everything and turns a simple blended juice into something that feels a little special. Garnished with a curl of lemon and a cucumber round, it's as pretty as it is refreshing — the kind of drink you'd happily serve to guests without a second thought.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 1 large english cucumber (about 12 oz), roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1–2 lemons)
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 thin lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- 2 thin cucumber rounds, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the chopped cucumber and cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 30–45 seconds.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher or large measuring cup. Pour the blended cucumber through the strainer, pressing the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. You should have about 3/4 to 1 cup of cucumber juice.
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