Ginger lemon tea is a warm and soothing blend of four simple ingredients for when you’re under the weather or want a little immunity boost. The flavor is bold, spicy, citrusy, and so comforting!

For many people, ginger tea is a favorite way to reap the benefits of ginger root.

Ginger root has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, mainly because of its high levels of a bioactive component, gingerol. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, ginger has been mainly used as a digestive aid for upset stomach, nausea, and constipation relief, as it is believed to stimulate the production of digestive juices and enzymes, which can help to break down food more effectively. Ginger has a warming effect on the body, improving circulation and helping to relieve common symptoms of colds. In addition, the root of the ginger plant is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. (1)

Combine these powerful medicinal properties of ginger with the health benefits of lemon, turmeric, and raw honey, and you’ve got the perfect way to start your day – especially in the colder months – or to wind down before bed in the evenings.

Tips for Making Ginger Lemon Tea

Ingredients

While you can buy ginger tea bags in the store, this homemade ginger lemon tea has much brighter and more refreshing flavors. Here’s what you need to make it:

• Ginger: fresh ginger is quite spicy, but I highly recommend using fresh ginger root rather than ginger powder. Dried powdered ginger offers less gingerol – a powerful antioxidant – than fresh ginger. I like to slice the ginger root for the tea, but you could also grate it. 
• Lemon: freshly squeezed lemon juice lends a bright pop of citrus flavor to balance the spicy ginger. 
• Turmeric: besides anti-inflammatory benefits, turmeric offers a beautiful orangey hue. One slice of fresh turmeric (or a pinch of ground turmeric) is all you need! If you’d like to take it even further, add a bit of black pepper to help your body absorb the curcumin from the turmeric.
• Honey: a traditional sweeter in ginger tea is honey. However, you can easily substitute honey with maple syrup or any other sweetener. Use as much or as little to sweeten the ginger tea to your taste.

How to Make Ginger Lemon Tea

You’ll never go to tea bags again after making ginger tea from fresh ingredients! Here’s how it’s done:

1. Boil the water. Add water to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat. Then, turn the heat off.
2. Steep. Add the ginger, lemon, and turmeric and gently stir. Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the ginger and lemon steep for at least 10 minutes. The longer you steep the tea, the stronger the ginger flavor will be!
3. Stir in the sweetener. Place a mesh strainer over a teapot and pour the tea through. If you’re careful enough, you might not even need the strainer. Add the honey (or any other sweetener) and stir. 
4. Serve. Stir, and serve the tea with a fresh slice of lemon.

Ginger Lemon Tea Variations

• Add warming spices: add a stick of cinnamon and/or a few cloves before steeping the tea for even more warming tea.
• Add cooling herbs: you can go the other way around and add a few sprigs of fresh mint or chamomile for a cooling component to balance the warmth of fresh ginger. 
• Swap the citrus: instead of a fresh lemon, you can use lime, orange, or tangerine.

More Anti-Inflammatory Drinks

• Ginger shots: these immunity-boosting shots are the perfect start to a day. They are like a magical elixir and will keep you in tip-top shape all year. The flavor is intense, especially if you are new to ginger shots, but so tasty!
• Jamu juice: jamu is a traditional anti-inflammatory drink from Indonesia. It is a very potent drink with a strong flavor, so it might take some getting used to. The taste is earthy from turmeric, spicy from ginger, tart from lime, and sweet from honey.
• Elderberry tea: elderberries are known to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and as such, elderberry tea might be one of the most medicinally valuable drinks when you’re feeling under the weather. The tea has a naturally sweet-tart flavor and a fruity aroma.

If you try any of these recipes, please leave a comment and rate the recipe below. It always means a lot when you do.