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Ginger tea with lemon and honey

20 min, 5 active4 servings62 kcal per servingEasy
Ginger tea with lemon and honey
Example photo: Shkwikiwiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ginger tea with lemon and honey warms you better than a blanket, and in autumn it is brewed in countless homes. Fresh ginger gives a warm, spicy heat, lemon a fresh sharpness and honey a gentle sweetness. It is easier to make than you might think: thinly sliced ginger is steeped in boiling water under a lid, and the lemon and honey go into the slightly cooled tea. That way the honey keeps its aroma and the lemon doesn't turn bitter. You can control the strength easily: the finer the ginger and the longer it steeps, the stronger the flavour.

Method

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  1. Wash the ginger, peel it with a spoon if needed and cut into thin slices or coarsely grate it.

  2. Scald the lemon with boiling water. Thinly slice half of it and squeeze the juice from the other half.

  3. Put the ginger in a teapot or saucepan, add a cinnamon stick if using, and pour over 1 litre of boiling water.

  4. Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes. For a mellower flavour, simmer the ginger gently for 5 minutes instead.

  5. Add the mint leaves and lemon slices and leave for another 3-5 minutes.

  6. Once the tea has cooled to about 50°C, add the lemon juice and honey and stir until dissolved.

  7. Strain, or pour into cups with the lemon slices.

Tips for success

  • The finer you cut the ginger, the stronger and spicier the tea.
  • Don't add honey to boiling water; it loses its aroma and goodness.
  • Don't leave the lemon in for too long, or the peel turns the tea bitter.
  • Make the ginger base without honey or lemon in advance and keep it in the fridge.

Serving and storage

Serve hot in glass mugs or a glass teapot with a lemon slice and a mint leaf.

Keep the strained ginger infusion without honey in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat without boiling. Add honey just before serving.

Variations

  • With black or green tea: add 2 teaspoons of loose tea for the last 3-5 minutes of steeping.
  • With orange and cloves: swap half the lemon for orange and add 2-3 cloves.
  • Iced: chill the infusion and add ice, lemon and mint for a refreshing lemonade.

Calories and macros

Per serving (about 264 g):

62kcal
0.5protein, g
0.2fat, g
16.5carbs, g

Per 100 g: 23 kcal, P 0.2, F 0.1, C 6.3. An estimate based on average ingredient values. Your daily calories ›

VegetarianQuickNo ovenGluten-freeLightBudget

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Frequently asked questions

How much ginger should I use?

For a mild flavour, 2-3 cm of root, about 10 g, per 250 ml of water is enough. If you like it hotter, use more or slice it finer and steep it longer.

Can I use ground ginger?

You can, but the flavour is duller and less fresh. Use 1/4 teaspoon per cup and strain the tea through a fine sieve.

When should I add the honey?

Once the tea has cooled to about 50°C, when you can drink it without burning yourself. In boiling water honey loses its aroma and some of its properties.