Manjistha Tea & Water for Skin: Benefits & How to Make
Manjistha tea and manjistha water are simple inside-out drinks made from Rubia cordifolia (manjistha) root — brewed or steeped to support clear, even, glowing-looking skin from within. To make either, simmer or soak ½–1 teaspoon of manjistha root powder or a small piece of root in water, then strain. Drink once daily, ideally paired with sunscreen and a steady routine.
No brewing, no straining, no guesswork?
The Element Brightening Drops give you a standardised, correctly dosed Manjistha & Amla blend — 5–6 drops in a glass of water, once or twice daily. All the inside-out benefit of manjistha water, none of the measuring.
Explore the Brightening Drops →This guide is part of The Element's Manjistha & glow-from-within series. Below: how to make manjistha tea and manjistha water at home, how they differ, when to drink them, and the easier standardised alternative.
What Is Manjistha Tea (and Manjistha Water)?
Manjistha tea is a warm infusion made by simmering manjistha root or root powder in water, while manjistha water is a lighter version made by steeping or soaking the root, often overnight, and drinking it at room temperature. Both are inside-out preparations — you drink them, you do not apply them to your face. They draw on Ayurveda's use of manjistha as a raktashodhak (blood-purifying) herb, explained in our manjistha in Ayurveda guide.
The two differ mainly in strength and effort:
| Manjistha tea | Manjistha water | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Simmered / boiled (decoction) | Steeped or soaked, often overnight |
| Strength | Stronger, more earthy | Lighter, milder |
| Served | Warm | Room temperature |
| Best for | A daily ritual drinker | An easy, no-cook option |
How to Make Manjistha Tea at Home
Making manjistha tea takes about ten minutes and one teaspoon of manjistha. Use food-grade manjistha root powder or clean dried root from a trusted source.
- Add 1–1.5 cups of water to a small pan.
- Stir in ½–1 teaspoon of manjistha root powder (or a small piece of dried root).
- Simmer gently for 5–10 minutes until the water turns a reddish-brown.
- Strain well through a fine sieve or cloth — the powder is gritty.
- Cool slightly and drink. A little honey or a squeeze of lemon can soften the earthy taste.
Drink once a day, and keep the dose modest and consistent rather than large and occasional.
How to Make Manjistha Water (the No-Cook Method)
Manjistha water is the easiest home preparation and needs no stove. Add ½ teaspoon of manjistha powder (or a small root piece) to a glass of water, stir, and let it steep for a few hours or overnight. Strain and drink in the morning. Because it is milder, some people find it gentler on the stomach than a strong decoction. It is still an ingestible drink — never apply it to skin.
What Are the Benefits of Drinking Manjistha?
The benefits people associate with manjistha tea and water are the same inside-out benefits attributed to the herb itself, since the drink is simply a delivery method. With consistent use and daily sun protection, manjistha is traditionally used to support:
- Even, clear-looking tone — its signature use, including the look of pigmentation and dark spots.
- Radiance from within — the "glow" tied to healthy skin, covered in manjistha for dull skin.
- Blemish-prone skin — as a cooling raktashodhak for the look of breakouts and acne marks.
- A reduced look of tan — used inside-out alongside sunscreen.
Manjistha is not an overnight fix — a realistic window to judge tone and clarity is several weeks of daily use, as we cover in how long manjistha takes to work.
When and How Often Should You Drink It?
For most people, once daily is a sensible starting point for manjistha tea or water. Consistency matters far more than dose size — the same amount every day beats a large cup once a week. Pick a time you can keep to, such as mid-morning or after a meal, and stay with it. Keep an eye on how your stomach responds and reduce the amount if the earthy decoction feels heavy.
Manjistha Tea vs Standardised Drops: Which Is Better?
Home-brewed manjistha tea is rewarding, but it has three real drawbacks: the dose is hard to standardise, the taste is strongly earthy, and quality varies between powders. A standardised ingestible blend solves all three.
| Factor | Home manjistha tea/water | The Element Brightening Drops |
|---|---|---|
| Dose consistency | Varies by scoop and brew | Standardised each time |
| Effort | Measure, simmer, strain daily | 5–6 drops in water |
| Formula | Manjistha only | Manjistha + Amla + 20 herbs |
| Taste | Strongly earthy | Diluted in a glass of water |
The Element Brightening Drops pair Manjistha with Amla and 20+ Ayurvedic herbs in a correctly dosed formula. Add 5–6 drops to a glass of water, drink once or twice daily, and you get the same inside-out routine without the kitchen work. For a fuller breakdown of forms and dosage, see how to use manjistha.
Conclusion
Manjistha tea and manjistha water are easy inside-out drinks: simmer or steep the root, strain, and drink once daily to support even tone and glow — always alongside sunscreen and a simple routine. If you would rather skip the measuring and brewing, the ingestible The Element Brightening Drops deliver a standardised Manjistha & Amla dose in seconds, in a glass of water.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make manjistha tea?
Simmer ½–1 teaspoon of manjistha root powder (or a small piece of root) in 1–1.5 cups of water for 5–10 minutes until it turns reddish-brown, then strain well and drink once daily. Honey or lemon softens the earthy taste.
What is the difference between manjistha tea and manjistha water?
Manjistha tea is boiled (a stronger decoction, served warm); manjistha water is steeped or soaked overnight (milder, served at room temperature). Both are drunk, not applied to skin.
Can you drink manjistha water every day?
Many people drink manjistha once daily. Keep the dose modest and consistent, follow product or practitioner guidance, and consult a qualified clinician first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or managing a health condition.
Is manjistha tea good for skin?
Manjistha is traditionally taken to support even tone, glow and the look of pigmentation and marks from within. The tea is simply a way to drink the herb; results depend on consistency and daily sun protection.
Can I apply manjistha water to my face?
Manjistha tea and water made to drink are ingestible. Manjistha can also be used topically as a powder face pack, but that is a separate preparation — do not confuse a drink with a face treatment. Ingestible blends like The Element Brightening Drops are for drinking only.
Does manjistha tea taste bad?
Manjistha has a strong, earthy, slightly bitter taste. Lemon or honey helps, or you can use a diluted ingestible blend in a full glass of water for a much milder experience.