Best Spices for Winter and How to Use Them

Cinnamon sticks with a piece of string wrapped around

Photo Credit: "© [Atlas] / Adobe Stock

The cold weather is kicking in, and your entire day consists of hot drinks and rubbing your hands together to keep warm. But you struggle to decide what to have for your meals. Greek yoghurt is too cold, and a kale salad is too summery. You want to stay healthy over winter, but what do you eat?

The best way to look after your health during chilly winter months is to spice it up. Read on to discover classic winter spices and how to use them while you wait for the weather to warm.

Benefits of Using Winter Spices

Photo Credit: "© [monticellllo] / Adobe Stock

Spices are rich in antioxidants and excellent anti-inflammatories, enhancing blood circulation, easing joint pain and protecting your immune system. This is especially useful over winter when colds run rampant and that old knee injury flares up.

The Best Spices To Warm Up With In Winter

Lady by a log burner warming up in the winter

Photo Credit: "© [Jasmina] / Adobe Stock

So, what special spices are best to use over winter? In the next section, we’ll cover some classic spices to add to savoury meals, sweet dishes and drinks.

Cinnamon

Photo Credit: "© [Africa Studio] / Adobe Stock

Cinnamon spice has a sweet, woody taste and comes as a cinnamon powder or whole cinnamon sticks. It’s a warming, seasonal spice, deliciously fragrant and reddy-brown in colour. Cinnamon is often used around Christmas but is perfect for any chilly, grey day.

Ways To Use Cinnamon

Photo Credit: "© [fahrwasser] / Adobe Stock

You might not know where to start if you're new to cinnamon. So, we’ve collated some excellent ways to incorporate cinnamon into your diet when the weather is nippy.

Stir into your porridge - Pop on the kettle, switch on the radio and make a bowl of heart-warming cinnamon porridge. Put the desired amount of oats into a saucepan, add your choice of milk and stir in half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon per serving
Make seasoned apple juice - When it’s cold, warm apple juice hits the right spot, but it’s even better with an infusion of winter spices. Simmer apple juice with pure cinnamon sticks and serve when hot.
Cinnamon tea - Cinnamon is wonderful for your digestive system, and a simple way to consume it is in tea. Put an Organic Apple, Rosehip and Cinnamon tea bag into your favourite mug and brew before sipping.

Nutmeg

Photo Credit: "© [altitudevisual] / Adobe Stock

The subtle spice nutmeg comes from the nutmeg tree and has an earthy, woody flavour. You can buy it as a pale brown powder or use whole nutmeg. The spice pairs wonderfully with cinnamon and is fantastic for increasing blood flow and balancing blood pressure. It may even enhance your libido.

Ways to use Nutmeg

Photo Credit: "© [Uuganbayar] / Adobe Stock

The light, woody sweetness of nutmeg makes it the perfect addition to baking, but it also complements savoury dishes. Check out the top ways to use nutmeg:

Include a pinch in your coffee - There’s nothing better on a drizzly, wet day than the rich aroma of coffee infused with the woody scent of ground nutmeg. Make your coffee as usual, then put a small amount of nutmeg in your mug and stir well.
Flavour your porridge - Grate fresh whole nutmeg into your porridge for the feel of crackling fireplaces and pattering rain in a bowl. Combine with cinnamon for a delicious blend of soothing spices.
Fry with fruit - After a wintery treat that doesn’t involve processed sugar? Chop up fresh fruit like apples and plums and fry until soft. Sprinkle on a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon for flavouring.

Ginger

Photo Credit: "© [Pixel-Shot] / Adobe Stock

Ginger is a golden, fiery-sweet spice. It’s a fantastic anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, and people often use it as a natural remedy for headaches and nausea. You can get anything from fresh ginger to ground ginger. Powdered ginger is perfect for storing in your cupboard and adding to meals and baking when it's frosty outside.

Ways to use Ginger

Gingerbread - What better way to use ginger than in gingerbread? Add the required amount of ground ginger to your baking mixture (a pinch more if you love the taste!). Then, bite into your soft, warm gingerbread fresh out of the oven.
Brew a ginger tea - Skip the caffeine and boost your blood flow and focus with a heart-warming ginger tea. Brew your own tea with dried ginger slices or get a fiery zing from Pukka’s Organic Three Ginger Herbal Tea.
Eat ginger as a snack - Need something to warm your body and take away the chills? Nibble on delicious milk chocolate and ginger or crystallised ginger for a sweet and warming snack.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a bright orange spice with an earthy, peppery tang. It has impressive anti-inflammatory effects and has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for health and beauty. Beneficial for blood circulation, heart health, acne and hair follicles, it had to be on our list of cold-season spices.

Ways to use Turmeric

Turmeric works well in savoury dishes, giving meals a bright and appetising colour. But there are many other ways to incorporate the spice into your diet. Here are some classic ways to use turmeric:

Have in a warming winter curry - Many savoury dishes use turmeric for its flavour and colour, but you don’t have to make a hot dish. Ground turmeric is also ideal for creating a family-friendly mild curry.
Stimulate your gut with turmeric tea - Turmeric makes a potent anti-oxidant tea that keeps you bright-eyed and busy-tailed. Pukka’s Organic Turmeric Tea contains a medley of turmeric, ginger and orange to lift your spirits and boost your blood flow.
Take turmeric capsules - If you’re not a fan of the flavour but want the benefits of turmeric during winter, try a turmeric supplement. Fito’s Turmeric And Ginger Capsules support joints and digestive health.

Warm Up Using Winter Spices With Grape Tree

Snuggle down this season with an array of warming winter spices. Make cinnamon fruit, and sprinkle nutmeg into your porridge. Or sip on ginger tea to get that soothing ‘Ahh’ feeling. If you prefer savoury, whip up a curry with some heat or give your bolognese a gentle spice kick. Find the perfect spice to see you through the chilly weather with Grape Tree.