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Dirty Lemon’s Latest Flavor Is Orange-Hued and Full of Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Emily Laurence

October 29, 2018

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Photo: Dirty Lemon

Functional-beverage brand Dirty Lemon is no stranger to experimentation. One of the major reasons why it's developed such a cult following (which is precisely what's required when you can't even buy the product in actual stores outside of Tribeca's The Drug Store), is its penchant for developing blends made with super-buzzy ingredients.

Collagen, activated charcoal, and CBD have all been starring ingredients of past mixes (which always use a base of cold-pressed lemon juice), and today Dirty Lemon released a brand-new flavor in a highlighter-orange-hued bottle. No, it's not pumpkin spice. It's turmeric, and it's got the anti-inflammatory benefits to show for it.

The turmeric and ginger notes are both strong, but somehow even though these (and, obviously, the lemon) are all bold on their own, they work together seamlessly.

Curious about how the lemon-turmeric drink tastes and also how that ingredients list looks, I got my hands on a bottle ASAP. The drink also includes pineapple juice, ginger puree, cassia (AKA Chinese cinnamon), spearmint, cayenne, luo han guo, and Himalayan sea salt. As a Dirty Lemon connoisseur, I recognized the luo han guo from one of the brand's matcha and CBD blends; the more common name for it is monk fruit, and it's an all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener. Everything else on the ingredients list is not only recognizable, but beneficial to the body. After completing my label-reading due diligence, I was ready to take a swig.

As is the case with any Dirty Lemon drink, it's a prerequisite that you actually enjoy lemon, which is always the most prominent flavor note. With this variety, the turmeric and ginger notes are both strong, but somehow even though these (and, obviously, the lemon) are all bold on their own, they work together seamlessly. I thought it would be too much of a kick for me, and while I wouldn't describe the drink as mild, per se, it didn't leave my mouth on fire or burn my throat. You can definitely sip on it without erupting into a coughing fit.

The final verdict: I'm into it, but I still love the OG blend the best, with rose coming in close second. But this iteration is the only drink in the Dirty Lemon line packs a bit of punch, so if you like things more spicy than sweet, consider your new favorite functional beverage found.

Here's how much turmeric you actually have to consume a day for it to have a noticeable difference, plus three 15-minute vegan recipes all made with the anti-inflammatory spice.