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    home » beverages » ginger lemon honey tea

    ginger lemon honey tea

    published: Jan 14, 2019 by cindy chou · updated: Jan 21, 2021

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    This soothing hot drink is perfect for comforting loved ones with a sore throat and stuffy nose, or just as a treat on a cold winter day. The heat from ginger warms you up as you drink and the honey soothes the throat, with lemon juice packing a vitamin C punch for your immune system. Adding a slice of citrus like orange adds a subtle sweetness and pleasant aroma. I've been drinking it almost every day since December!


    There's not much to say about this recipe other than how simple it is. I have a copy of the recipe handy to send to friends and family whenever I hear someone is under the weather. It was also a common request during flu and cold season for family meal when I worked in professional kitchens, where I would make large batches for everyone to share.

    The level of spice, tartness, and sweetness can be adjusted to your personal preference. The ratio of ginger to lemon juice and honey in this recipe is by far the favorite combination I've tested though, so give it a try!

    here’s how to get started

     

    INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED FOR THIS RECIPE

     

    • a large (4") piece of fresh ginger
    • water for boiling
    • 2 lemons
    • 2 tablespoons of honey
    • 1 blood orange, optional

    cooking equipment and pantry items used in this hot beverage recipe

    Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we do make a small profit from your purchases (your price is not affected by this commission). We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you click on an affiliate link, you consent to a cookie being placed on your browser for purposes of tracking commissions.

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    how to make this easy ginger lemon honey tea – step by step

    jump to cooking video

    First, rinse the ginger and lemons under cold water to wash. There's no need to peel the ginger.

    Roughly slice a 4 inch piece of fresh ginger as shown (photo 1).

    Then, cut the lemons in half for juicing. It's useful to have a citrus juicer like the one shown above under the equipment needed section. You will use 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice for 2 servings (about 1 ½ to 2 lemons).

    For easier juicing without a citrus juicer, you can use tongs. Just place one half of a lemon between the joint of the tongs and squeeze the ends of the tongs together to juice the lemon cut side facing down into a bowl.

    <strong>①</strong> cut ginger slices
    ① cut ginger slices
    <strong>②</strong> strain ginger water<br/>after simmering 15 minutes
    ② strain ginger water
    after simmering 15 minutes

    Heat 1 quart of water and the sliced ginger in a small pot over high heat until boiling, partially cover and reduce heat to simmer for 15 minutes.

    Strain and keep the ginger slices to reuse for another batch (photo 2). I usually will continue to add water and boil more ginger water for extra servings or to use another day.

    While the ginger water is heating, wash and slice the blood orange into thin rounds if using.

    mise en place – ingredient prep table for an easy to reference to-do list

    ingredientqtyprep
    fresh ginger4" piecewash, roughly slice
    water1 quartfor boiling
    lemons2wash, cut in half
    juice (3 tablespoons)
    blood orange,
    optional
    1wash, slice into thin rounds
    honey2 tablespoons
    make ginger waterheat water and ginger
    bring to boil
    partially cover
    simmer 15 minute over low heat
    mix ingredientscombine strained ginger water,
    honey, and lemon juice
    stir to dissolve honey
    servedivide into 2 cups
    top each cup with blood orange slice

    putting it all together

    Combine the ginger water, honey, and lemon juice (photos 3 - 4). Stir to dissolve the honey. Divide into 2 cups and top each cup with a slice of blood orange. Enjoy sipping it while it's hot.

    <strong>③</strong> add honey
    ③ add honey
    <strong>④</strong> add lemon juice
    ④ add lemon juice


    COOKING WITH KIDS - what can the kids help with?

     

    • picking out fresh ginger and lemons
    • juicing lemons
    • snacking on blood orange slices

    This drink may not be a favorite with all kids, but I loved it when I was growing up. You can dilute the ginger water with some lukewarm drinking water to make this recipe less spicy and to cool it down to a safe drinking temperature.

    recipes that go well with this ginger lemon honey tea:

    This hot drink would pair perfectly with a salad or snack that complements the flavors of ginger and lemon. Try enjoying it with a plate of roasted fuyu persimmon and asian pear with brussels sprouts and radish.

    Disclosure: The recipe below may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (your price is not affected by this commission). If you click on an affiliate link, you consent to a cookie being placed on your browser for purposes of tracking commissions. See our Disclaimer for more information.

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    4.92 from 12 votes

    ginger lemon honey tea

    This soothing hot drink is perfect for comforting loved ones with a sore throat and stuffy nose, or just as a treat on a cold winter day. The heat from ginger warms you up as you drink and the honey soothes the throat, with lemon juice packing a vitamin C punch for your immune system.
    prep time5 mins
    cook time15 mins
    total time20 mins
    servings: 2 servings
    author: cindy chou
    Prevent your screen from going dark.

    watch it step-by-step: the sound of cooking® video

    ingredients

    • 4 inch piece fresh ginger, washed and roughly sliced
    • 1 quart water for boiling
    • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 ½ to 2 lemons)
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 1 blood orange (optional), sliced into thin rounds

    instructions

    • Heat water and sliced ginger in a small pot over high heat until boiling, partially cover and reduce heat to simmer for 15 minutes.
    • Strain and keep ginger slices to reuse for another batch if needed.
    • While ginger water is heating, slice blood orange (optional).
    • Combine ginger water, honey, and lemon juice. Stir to dissolve the honey.
    • Divide into 2 cups, top each cup with a slice of blood orange and serve hot.

    notes

    You can adjust the amount of ginger, lemon, and honey to taste. This is my favorite ratio, but everyone likes their ginger lemon honey tea with varying levels of spice, tartness, and sweetness.
    This recipe yields 4 cups (2 cups per serving).
    course: Drinks
    cuisine: Chinese
    keyword: blood orange, ginger, honey, hot drink, lemon juice, soothing, winter
    difficulty: easy
    tried this recipe?Take a pic and tag @thesoundofcooking! I'd love to see what you made.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Paige says

      January 15, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      This is a great little recipe to have for winter! I'm hanging on to this one!

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 03, 2021 at 12:02 am

        Thanks! Hope you like it.

        Reply
    2. Shelley says

      January 22, 2021 at 1:34 pm

      Wow - this really is so very simple! Which is exactly the kind of recipe you need when you don't feel well (or when you're the mom in charge of taking care of other people who don't feel well lol!). Perfect to keep on hand for the next time sniffles strike - I'm totally pinning this to save!

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:55 pm

        Thanks, Shelley! Glad to hear it'll be useful, but hope you won't need it anytime soon. It's also great as an easy drink on cold days 🙂

        Reply
    3. Amy Liu Dong says

      January 22, 2021 at 3:04 pm

      I love lemon ginger tea so much and I am drinking this every morning and before I go to sleep.

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:52 pm

        Awesome! Now I feel like I'm due for a large batch.

        Reply
    4. Eileen Kelly says

      January 23, 2021 at 5:00 am

      I just loved this tea. It was super easy to prepare. I now will be enjoying this every day.

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:51 pm

        Hi Eileen! So happy to hear you loved this recipe!

        Reply
    5. Kushigalu says

      January 24, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      Even we prepare this hot Lemon ginger drink for sore throat. It really helps alot. Great share.

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:50 pm

        Thanks! Glad you like this drink as much as I do 🙂

        Reply
    6. Naiby says

      January 24, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      I love ginger lemon honey tea. I call it a "grog" in my language (French). I always do it whenever I feel I'll be catching a cold or something. What a great idea to use tongs to juice a lemon. I never thought of that. I guess tongs will force the juice to come out more than using our hands.

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:49 pm

        Hi Naiby, thanks for sharing! I love learning and wish I could speak French like you 🙂 Tongs really help when you don't have a citrus juicer. It's something I learned from other chefs when I cooked in restaurants.

        Reply
    7. Erin says

      January 24, 2021 at 6:32 pm

      I love the section for what kids can do! My kid is coming down with a snotty nose right now, which means in a few hours he'll be waking up crying and sick. :/ I think I'll need to make this tomorrow already!

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:42 pm

        Aw, I'm so sorry to hear. Being sick is no fun - wishing him a speedy recovery! I hope he's feeling all better!

        Reply
    8. Loreto and Nicoletta says

      January 25, 2021 at 4:06 am

      Such a soothing beverage, especially in the cold months. Love adding ginger to our teas!

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:40 pm

        Ginger really warms you up 🙂 Thanks for giving this recipe a try!

        Reply
    9. Jamie says

      January 25, 2021 at 5:44 am

      This is such a wonderful recipe and video! It's so relaxing to watch, I can almost imagine the taste of the tea right now. I'm planning on making this tomorrow for breakfast!

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:38 pm

        I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and video - relaxing is definitely what I was going for!

        Reply
    10. Natalie says

      January 25, 2021 at 9:26 am

      I love ginger lemon tea. I always make it when I feel like I'm about to get sick. It really helps to soothe the symptoms. Lovely recipe.

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:37 pm

        It really is comforting. Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    11. Kari Heron says

      January 25, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      I make ginger tea with honey all the time but I love your surprising addition of blood orange. How delightful!

      Reply
      • cindy chou says

        February 02, 2021 at 11:37 pm

        Thanks! It's a fun twist to a simple recipe. So glad to hear you like it 🙂

        Reply

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    Hello! I’m Cindy Chou, RDN (she/her/她), a Taiwanese American chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (but you won’t find any restrictive diet talk here!). I'm also a hotpot addict and love to cook Taiwanese and other Asian cuisine-inspired dishes. Join me for umami-rich recipes, pro cooking tips, and relaxing cooking videos to help you slow down and create lasting food memories.

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