Straight from the bottle. That's the simple answer, and most days it's the only one you need. The bottle is small for a reason — twist the cap, drink it, get on with whatever you were doing.
Still, a turmeric shot isn't water. Ours has a kick from ginger and black pepper extract with a citrus flavor over the top, and the kick tends to arrive at the back of your throat a beat after you swallow. If you're expecting it, it's a bright jolt of flavor. If you're not, the first one can catch you off guard. Which is worth knowing before you open one at your desk in front of other people.
Straight from the bottle
The reason this works is the size. There isn't much liquid in a shot, so the strong part is brief. The citrus usually lands first, then the ginger, then the warmth at the back — and by the time you've registered all three, it's finished.
A few small things make it easier. Swallowing it in one go rather than nursing it can keep the kick short. Something to drink afterward — water, coffee, whatever's already on your desk — can reset your mouth quickly if you want it reset. And if you're new to these, don't decide anything off the first bottle. You'll have a much better idea after the second whether you want to drink them straight or stretch them out.
Cold or room temperature
Both work, and they can taste noticeably different.
Cold rounds things off. The citrus comes forward, the ginger reads a little softer, and the whole thing goes down more like a juice. Room temperature is the fuller version — more ginger, more warmth, more of the spice character that turmeric brings.
If you've only had it one way, try the other before you decide which you prefer. It's the same bottle either way, so it costs you nothing to find out.
If you'd rather sip it than shoot it
Not everything has to be a shot, despite the name.
Over ice. Pour it into a small glass with a couple of cubes and drink it the way you'd drink anything else. It takes a few minutes instead of a few seconds, the ice thins it slightly as it melts, and the kick spreads out across the whole drink rather than landing all at once. This is a good way in if the straight version is more than you want first thing.
With sparkling water. One bottle into a tall glass of sparkling water gets you something close to a citrus soda with a ginger edge. It's longer and fizzier than anything you'd call a shot, and it's the version to make when someone else is trying one for the first time.
With juice. Orange and pineapple both work, and apple works if you want it gentler still. Juice sweetens it and softens the kick considerably, which is either the point or a shame depending on your taste. Start with a little juice rather than a lot — it's easy to bury the citrus and ginger entirely, and then you're mostly drinking juice.
When in the day
No particular time is required. Morning is an easy slot mainly because it's easy to remember — it attaches itself to coffee or breakfast and then you stop thinking about it. Mid-afternoon works too, especially if you want something with a bit of flavor to it that isn't another coffee. After dinner is fine.
There's also no schedule to keep. Drink one when you want one.
Two practical notes
Turmeric stains easily, so give the glass a rinse rather than leaving it in the sink for the afternoon. Same for a light shirt if you're drinking it in a hurry — that yellow can hold on to fabric.
And because ours needs no refrigeration, the glass is optional. A bottle can go in a work bag, a desk drawer, or a kitchen cabinet, so you can drink it wherever you happen to be, straight from the bottle, with nothing to wash afterward.
What's in ours
Turmeric Time is a ready-to-drink wellness shot made with organic turmeric extract, organic ginger juice and organic ginger extract, black pepper extract, citrus, and honey. No preservatives, no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. It's non-GMO and bottled in the USA, it doesn't need refrigeration, and you can drink it chilled or at room temperature. It comes in packs of 6, 12, 24, and 48.
If you're newer to all this and want the wider picture, there's a longer piece on what a wellness shot actually is. Otherwise, pick a pack and start with one straight from the bottle. You can always put the next one over ice.