Winter Tonic

Last winter was a bad one for me. I had multiple rounds of flu and colds that really knocked me out for much of the season. We even had to postpone Christmas.

I’m not taking chances this year ~ this vibrant winter tonic juice is my latest weapon. Here’s to a healthier winter!

🥕 Soft, smooth, and balanced ~ mellow carrot gives this tonic its lovely, soft flavor that sets it apart from other juices and juice blends.

🍎 Gently sweet ~ apple cider and orange add just enough sweetness to balance the earthy carrot.

🍊 A winter feel-good drink ~ my winter tonic is packed with beta-carotene and vitamin C to help support your immune system through cold and flu season.

🍋 No juicer required ~ this tonic comes together in your blender.

Building your winter tonic

Carrot juice is the base for this tonic, but you’d never guess it. The blend has a unique soft fruity flavor where no one ingredient dominates.

CARROT JUICE

• I buy bottled carrot juice. Look for the words pure, organic, and not from concentrate on the label. The ingredient list should read carrot juice only (lemon juice is ok.) Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. That gorgeous orange color is a clue!
• The carrot is what keeps this juice from being too sweet or too sharp.

APPLE CIDER

• I use fresh, refrigerated cider in season. Unfiltered cider contains tiny particles of apple that give it a fuller flavor and cloudier appearance than clear apple juice.
• The rest of the year, look for bottled cider that’s 100% apple juice, preferably unfiltered, with no added sugar or spices. Musselman’s and Langers both make versions.
• Apple cider gives the tonic a gentle sweetness.

ORANGE JUICE

• I squeeze it fresh, but a good-quality refrigerated orange juice works, too. Look for 100% juice, not from concentrate, with no added sugar.
• Fresh orange juice brings vitamin C, which helps support your immune system.

LEMON JUICE

• Fresh squeezed. A little lemon can make a sweet juice taste fresher and less sweet. I love the pop of acidity.

GINGER

• Use a knob of fresh ginger, rough chopped. Ginger contains gingerols, natural compounds responsible for its heat ~ and possible anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Fresh ginger has higher levels of gingerols and the brightest, most pronounced flavor.
  • Jarred or tubed ginger paste still contains gingerols, but processing and storage can reduce their concentration.
  • Frozen ginger is a great alternative for your winter tonic. Research suggests freezing can preserve gingerols really well.

SEA SALT

• What a surprise ~ a pinch makes the flavors of this juice pop. Start with a little and add more to taste.

If you want to change it up

I think the main pillars of this recipe are the carrot juice, lemon juice, and ginger. The rest can be switched up:

Swap out the apple juice for pineapple juice.

Use blood orange or tangerine juice instead of regular OJ.

Add cranberry or pomegranate juice in small amounts.

A pinch of cayenne for a warming kick.

A few fresh mint leaves.

Top off your winter tonic with some sparkling water.

If you like my modern juice glasses you can find similar here.