A simple kitchen-made tonic combining cloves, chia seeds, and a handful of everyday spices is gaining attention in the natural wellness space as a potential daily ritual for skin health and collagen support. Unlike pricey collagen supplements, this DIY drink draws on ingredients with a growing body of scientific evidence behind them — and it can be made in under 15 minutes.
What Is This Drink?
The Clove Chia Collagen Drink is a warm-spice infusion blended with hydrated seeds, lemon juice, ginger, cinnamon, and honey. The recipe calls for boiling cloves, ginger, and cinnamon in water to create a spice infusion, then combining it with gel-soaked chia and sabja (basil) seeds, fresh lemon juice, and raw honey. The result is a nutrient-dense tonic that can be consumed on an empty stomach each morning or as a midday pick-me-up, ideally four to five times a week for visible results.
The Science Behind the Ingredients
Each component of this drink contributes its own skin-supportive mechanism, and several have been studied in peer-reviewed research.
Cloves are the star of the formula. Scientific research published in Wiley Online Library found that cloves protect skin from UVB-induced oxidative stress by normalizing oxidative indexes and inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6. Separately, the active compound eugenol — clove’s most abundant bioactive — has been shown to stimulate fibroblast activity, the skin cells responsible for manufacturing collagen and elastin. Phytochemical studies have further identified that flavonoids in clove extract are key to increasing collagen density in skin tissue.
Chia seeds bring a powerful collagen-supportive nutritional profile. They contain all nine essential amino acids — including the precursor amino acids that form collagen — along with zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin E, each of which directly nurtures collagen synthesis. Their rich omega-3 fatty acid content (specifically alpha-linolenic acid) supports the skin’s barrier function and reduces inflammation, while antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid protect against free-radical damage.
Lemon juice delivers vitamin C, which plays a non-negotiable biochemical role: it hydroxylates the amino acids proline and lysine, essentially “locking” collagen strands into their strong, stable triple-helix structure. Without adequate vitamin C, the body simply cannot complete collagen synthesis.
Ginger and cinnamon both contribute anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, while sabja (basil) seeds supply flavonoids, zinc, and magnesium that support skin rejuvenation. Honey acts as a natural humectant and tissue healer, locking moisture into the skin while adding antibacterial properties.
How to Make It
Boil 250 ml of water with 1 tsp whole cloves, ½ inch sliced ginger, and ⅛ tsp cinnamon powder; simmer for 5 minutes and let cool
Soak 1 tbsp chia seeds and 1 tbsp sabja seeds in 150 ml room-temperature water for 10 minutes until they form a gel
Strain the cooled spice infusion into the glass with the soaked seeds
Add the juice of half a lemon and 1 tsp of raw honey; stir well
Drink immediately or refrigerate for 15–20 minutes for a thicker consistency
Store leftovers in an airtight glass jar for up to 24 hours and shake before consuming.
Broader Context: Natural Collagen Boosters
This drink fits within a wider and well-documented nutritional approach to collagen support. Dermatologists and researchers have highlighted that certain beverages — including citrus-infused water, aloe vera juice, pomegranate juice, and green tea — can support or preserve the body’s collagen levels from the inside out. The common thread across all of them is antioxidant protection combined with vitamin C or collagen-building amino acids.
Collagen production begins naturally declining around age 25, making dietary strategies a valuable complement to skincare routines. The advantage of a whole-food drink like this one is that it delivers multiple synergistic nutrients simultaneously, rather than isolating a single supplement compound.
The Clove Chia Collagen Drink is, on balance, a well-reasoned wellness formula grounded in legitimate nutritional science. Each ingredient has documented mechanisms relevant to skin health — this is not pseudoscience. That said, it is worth noting that the majority of clove research has been conducted in laboratory or animal models, and large-scale clinical trials in humans specifically on this drink combination are lacking. Consumers should view it as a healthy, anti-inflammatory dietary addition rather than a clinically proven treatment. As with all wellness habits, consistency matters — and the good news is that this drink is low-cost, low-risk, and, according to those who make it, genuinely enjoyable to consume.
