Turmeric is a plant with a vivid yellow root that’s key in curry, popular in Indian and Vietnamese cuisines and has myriad health benefits. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory that settles stomachs and supposedly helps stave off Alzheimer’s and cancer. This metabolism booster is becoming popular in Los Angeles drinks. Find my top choices in alphabetical order.

UPDATES SINCE MAY 20, 2015
Additions: bout it! Superfruit Bar, Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen
Subtractions: G&B is now Go Get Em Tiger, Moon Juice (CLOSED)

bout it! Superfruit Bar(Hollywood) Turnt Up Turmeric + Turmeric Juice Shot

Seasoned bartender Jason Bran now offers two turmeric drinks at bout it! Superfruit Bar near The Grove. His turmeric juice shot delivers a spicy blast. Turnt Up Turmeric is more balanced, blending orange, carrot, ginger, and turmeric.

Café Gratitude (Larchmont Village + Venice) – I Am Golden

Founders Matthew and Terces Engelhart expanded Café Gratitude from San Francisco in 2011. Step-brothers Ryland Engelhart and Cary Mosier now have two fashionable plant-focused L.A. locations that are basically design blog sets come to life. I Am Golden is a nutty turmeric latte that swirls turmeric juice, almond milk, black pepper, and honey sweetness.

Go Get Em Tiger (7 L.A. Locations) – Turmeric Latte

Go Get Em Tiger’s turmeric latte defies easy categorization, but is dangerously easy to drink. This signature drink incorporates fresh turmeric, fresh ginger and local honey. The bright yellow turmeric juice pairs well with steamed almond macadamia nut milk that GGET lightly sweetens with dates and swirls with a spicy cracked black pepper.

Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen (DTLA, Eagle Rock, Inglewood + Slauson) – Turmeric Tonic (Seasonal)

Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan started Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen on Slauson Avenue and now co-own four branches with creative powerhouse Issa Rae. Turmeric Tonic is a refreshing drink with turmeric, ginger and orange juice, but no tonic.

The Punchbowl (Los Feliz) – Healing Turmeric + Spark Plug

In 2012, Jonathon Wright and Christiana Solano opened this colorful organic juice shop with a friend on a side street. The Punchbowl serves two different turmeric drinks. Spark Plug crafts organic cold pressed juice with turmeric, pineapple, ginger, apple, lemon and cayenne. Healing Turmeric contains turmeric, lime, coconut water, and tulsi (holy basil).

SQIRL (Virgil Village) – Turmeric Tonic

Beverages also get creative at Jessica Koslow’s unstoppable seasonal cafe. My favorite drink is Turmeric Tonic, a beautiful, slightly bitter beverage that arrives on the rocks and combines organic ginger and lemon juices and simple syrup.