People for generations have sworn by the ingredients in this orange ‘shot’
11:27, 28 Jan 2026Updated 11:28, 28 Jan 2026
People might be struggling with a nasty cold during the winter (stock image)(Image: Getty)
People have been swearing by a natural ‘Indian’ remedy for generations to help deal with the nasty side effects of a cough and cold during winter. With the weather still remaining quite bitter at times across the UK, people might still fall victim to the common health problem in January and February.
TikTok user @Bettylikestoeat tried a cold remedy that is reportedly popular in India. The simple blend involves mixing turmeric, honey and black pepper into orange juice. The social media user also added ginger to her mixture, claiming: “I just feel like it is essential if you have a cold.”
The person who responded to one of Betty’s previous videos didn’t give any exact measurements, leading to a little bit of eyeballing when putting together the blend of ingredients. The result was a vibrant orange-coloured drink that was apparently “so tasty”.
After pouring her mixture into a shot glass to try, she compared the taste of her homemade version to popular wellness shots. Betty said: “That is delicious. It tastes like one of those ginger shots you can buy from Pret-a-Manger for £4.”
People wanting to copy this could get all of the ingredients for under £3.50 from Tesco, and some items might already be in your fridges and cupboards. The full list of ingredients is below:
Content cannot be displayed without consentWhy do these ingredients help with a cold?
Separately, most of these ingredients have a proven track record of relieving cold symptoms, so combining them into a single homemade health shot makes sense to boost their benefits. Orange juice is thought to help due to its high vitamin C content and other nutrients that support immune function and hydration.
The NHS also suggests honey, mixed with hot or warm water, for its soothing properties for the throat and for reducing cough frequency and severity, acting as a natural cough suppressant. However, it is not suitable for infants under one year old.
Spices like turmeric, which are rich in the anti-inflammatory compound curcumin, are often found in herbal tea blends. It is also reported to help soothe sore throats, ease congestion, and boost immunity, especially when paired with black pepper (for added absorption).
The honey and spices are added to an orange juice base(Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
In the past, the same TikTok user shared a similar remedy from her own childhood in a Cantonese household where a unique Coca-Cola blend was a popular at-home cold remedy. Heating up the popular fizzy drink and mixing in lemon and ginger was something she and her family “swore by” before getting ill.
Whilst this is not strictly medicinal, this popular folk remedy, especially in Hong Kong, is believed to soothe sore throats and ease cold symptoms. It is thought to work by the steam, warmth, and properties of ginger, as well as the energy boost of sugar.