Make a Winter Spiced Orange Juice
Description
Winter is the perfect time to add a bit of spice to a juice recipe. Here I have added some warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, simmered over low heat to infuse the flavours.
Drinking this juice recipe warm feels very nurturing and comforting. The texture is creamy and smooth and the taste is sweet with a little peppery bitterness from the spices.
Ingredients
5 oranges, peeled
1 pumpkin wedge
1 ginger piece (5cm)
1/2 cup water
2 cinnamon sticks
pinch star anise
pinch cloves
pinch black peppercorns
2 tbsp maple syrup
Juicing Time: 20 mins
Juice Qty: 1000ml
Serves: 4
Preparation
Oranges
Remove the orange skin leaving as much white pith as possible
Juice whole or cut in half if too big to fit into the wide chute
Pumpkin
Remove skin and seeds
Dice into large chunks
Ginger
Cut off a 5cm thick piece
Cut into thin slices leaving the skin on
Cut slices into small pieces
Method
Make the juice:
First, add the pumpkin chunks to the juicer one at a time then add the ginger.
Next, add the oranges taking your time letting the juicer press each orange through before adding more.
Finish by closing the cap on the juicer and pouring 1/2 cup of water into the chute. Let it rinse the juicer for 30 secs before opening the cap and releasing the water into the juice.
Heat and add spices:
In a small saucepan over high heat combine the juice with cinnamon, star anise, clove, peppercorns and maple syrup.
Bring to the boil, stirring frequently, and then lower the heat. Simmer for 5 minutes before removing the pan from the heat. Cover with a lid and steep for an additional 10 minutes.
Strain and serve:
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and pour into mugs or glass jars. Refrigerate if not used immediately.
Tip: if not drinking warm you can serve chilled mixed with mineral or soda water in a 1:3 ratio of juice to sparkling water poured over ice.
Health Benefits
Orange
Oranges help quench your thirst and moisten your lungs, letting the energy flow freely in the chest. They also have a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds like anthocyanins, citrus flavanones, and various polyphenols.
Oranges are full of lung-friendly antioxidants and packed with vitamin C which is well known for fighting infection and inflammation.
The whole food type of vitamin C, found in oranges, stimulates your body’s immune system into action so you can say goodbye to your cold and may even reduce the length of time you feel sick or even how seriously it develops.
Oranges destroy free radicals that cause signs of skin aging, scouring the intestine and flushing toxins from the body. Freshly squeezed orange juice is a predigested food. This allows for immediate absorption of all its abundant healing properties.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin contains loads of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in your body. Carotene's are antioxidants that prevent cell damage from oxidation that occurs with aging.
Pumpkin is excellent way to replenish and restore the body after a workout. It is high in potassium which helps to restore the body’s balance of electrolytes after exercise and keeps muscles functioning at their best.
Research suggests that there are also cancer blockers in pumpkins. These are called protease inhibitors, they stop viruses and cancer causing chemicals from be active in the intestines.
Ginger
Ginger is one of the world’s oldest and most popular medicinal spices. It is known to greatly aid in digestion and assimilation and is widely regarded to help prevent colds, flu, motion sickness, and vertigo.
Ginger is like every's favourite Auntie (anti). Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-spasmodic, anti-nausea, anti-bacterial.
Ginger will support your overall immune system, so is great to use during the winter months, to help fight off colds. Gingerols in ginger cause a rapid and noticeable widening of the blood vessel walls and in turn helps to enhance circulation and also lower blood pressure.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties that boost your immune system, kill microorganisms such as staph, E. coli, and cold and flu germs. Consider adding a couple of pinches of cinnamon to your morning tea, smoothie, or juice.
Star Anise
Star anise can significantly boost the immune system. It is known to effectively remove mucus and congestion from the body due to its strong expectorant properties. It is also commonly used as a digestive aid and can help to relieve gas, constipation, cramping, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion.
Clove
Cloves contain powerful antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties making them tremendously useful in helping to heal a wide variety of illnesses and health conditions.
They are particularly beneficial for the digestive tract and are great for indigestion, gas, constipation, bloating, nausea, and countering the effects of heavy, rich food.
Happy Juicing!