Ginger Tea
This is my favorite winter tea and I have been drinking it every morning this winter! It has kept sore throats at bay, kept sinuses clear, tummies happy, and most importantly warms me up!
Ginger truly does top the list of effective natural home remedies. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. It is great for digestion and sore throats. And many other benefits are listed here. So naturally I wanted to share this recipe with you.
I discovered this tea at a wonderful Healing Teas Workshop with Rita Nader Heikenfeld, CCP, CMH, here in Cincinnati, Ohio. This recipe I am sharing with you is inspired by her Ginger Tea. It was so delicious! A hot, sweet drink with a wonderful kick! She has even more wonderful recipes on her website, abouteating.com. If you get a chance check it out.
Let me know what you think of this tea on my Facebook site. Is it just right? Too much kick? Do you have your version of a winter tea?
Ingredients
- 2 cups boiled water
- 1 tbsp diced fresh ginger root (with skin)
- 1/4 of a lemon
- 1 tbsp of honey
- pinch or two of cayenne pepper
Step 1
Boil 2 cups of water.
Step 2:
Dice up the fresh ginger root into little pieces.
Step 3
To steep the tea, you can use a teapot, french press, or just a big ole mug. I like to use my Grandmother Hurley’s teapot and think of her in heaven. How she loved a good cup of tea and was way ahead of her time with healthy cooking. So if you’re watching from heaven Grandma, join me for a cuppa!
Grandma Hurley, on the far right, enjoying tea with a friend! Will you share your Ginger Tea with a friend? Tea for two and two for tea?
Step 4
In my routine, after the kettle starts to steam I pour some of the boiling water into the empty teapot. This will warm it up. Then I pour that water out.
Place the diced ginger into your choice of teapot, tea ball, or simply in the bottom of a large mug. You can always strain out the ginger pieces later. Pour the boiled water over it.
Step 5
Cover your teapot with a (tea) cloth so that all those good nutrients don’t escape through the tea spout! This will also keep your tea warm while it steeps. Instead of tea cloths you could really spice things up with tea cozies 🙂
Let the tea steep for 10 minutes or so.
Step 6
Slice up your lemon. Squeeze the lemon into a wonderful cup. I love to use my mug from Summer Fair! Pour the steeped ginger tea over the lemon. At this point the steeped tea should be just the right temperature to maintain all that great vitamin C in the lemon! Hello happy immune system! Key tip: Boiling water will destroy the wonderful healing properties in the lemon.
Step 7
Now for the piece de resistance! (I will figure out how to do my accent aigu here! I am quite the Francophile! Mais oui!) Sprinkle some cayenne pepper on top! Add a little or a lot! I am becoming quite liberal with this part 🙂 Stir in some honey now if you’d like. Check out Bee Haven Honey for amazing local honey in Cincinnati, Ohio!
Step 8
The most important part, SIP and ENJOY!
Join in the conversation on my Facebook page and let me know what you think of this tea. Maybe it’s Earl Grey for you all the way! That was my little brother Tommy’s favorite. What is your tried and true?