Soothing Fresh Ginger Tea Recipe with Honey

This ginger tea recipe with honey is a soothing hot drink that’s rich with nutrients and full of flavor.

It’s that time of the year again! Old man winter has settled in and cold and flu season is upon us. Especially this time of year, I like to have an arsenal of nourishing foods to help naturally bolster my body’s immune defenses.

Honeyed ginger tea is a delicious way to boost nutrition. If you’re feeling under the weather and find that sipping a hot beverage helps relieve your cold and flu symptoms, give this a try!

Is Ginger Tea Actually Tea?

Nope! True tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, lovingly known as the tea plant or tea tree. White tea, green tea, and black tea are all examples of true tea (and you can read more about true tea on Wikipedia).

However, there is a caveat. You can steep ginger along with a true tea for ginger-flavored tea!

This fresh ginger tea is actually an herbal tea, which is known as a tisane. Herbal teas (aka tisanes) are made from steeping flowers, fruit, bark, herbs, spices, and/or rhizomes (such as ginger or turmeric) in water.

These infusions are caffeine-free, and can be served hot or cold. However, especially during cooler months, I find a hot tisane like this one very relaxing.

And a tisane can be a great way to get a boost of nutrition. Here, antioxidant-rich dried cranberries, anti-inflammatory ginger, apple cider vinegar with “mother”, and raw local honey combine for soothing, hot drink that’s as potent as it is delicious.

Fresh Ginger Tea Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

• Dried whole cranberries – Cranberries are optional here. They add nutrition (you can read about the health benefits of dried cranberries on Livestrong), and a pleasant fruity tart flavor. Look for unsweetened dried whole cranberries, or you can use fresh cranberries instead.
• Fresh ginger – This is the star of the show.
• Filtered water – The steeping liquid.
• Apple cider vinegar – Use organic raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with “the mother”. Alternatively, you can omit the vinegar and use the same amount of fresh lemon juice instead.
• Honey – Use raw local honey for the most health benefits.

Instructions

1. Add the cranberries, ginger, and water to a 3-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover the saucepan, turn off the heat, and steep 20 minutes.
2. Reheat briefly just to rewarm the tisane, and then stir in the vinegar (or lemon juice) and honey.
3. Strain out the cranberries and ginger if desired, and serve warm.

Storage

Once you make and strain the tea, you can store it in a covered glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can drink it chilled or reheat it.

Tips

• Go back to basics. In its most basic form, you can just make ginger tisane with ginger and water. The other ingredients add nutrients and flavor, but they’re optional.
• Adjust the ginger level to suit your tastes. If you like it on the strong side, feel free to double the amount of ginger. Alternatively, reduce the ginger for a more subtle flavor.
• Add other herbs and spices. Try adding a cinnamon stick, fresh sage, a bay leaf, or a couple cloves. Experiment with the aromatics to come up with a custom drink that you love!

Ginger Tea Benefits

Ginger, particularly fresh ginger, has a variety of health benefits. It has anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and anti-cancer properties.

Studies show that ginger may have the following health benefits:

• Relieving nausea
• Lowering blood sugar
• Reducing cholesterol
• Easing menstrual pain
• Reducing cancer risk
• Fighting bacterial and fungal infections

You can read more about the health benefits of ginger on National Library of Medicine, WebMD, and Healthline.

Ginger Tea Recipe FAQs

What is the Best Time to Drink Ginger Tea?

Ginger tea is actually a tisane or herbal infusion, not a true tea. Fresh ginger tea is caffeine-free, so you can drink it any time of day.

It’s a refreshing drink in the morning, and it’s also a soothing beverage to incorporate into your nighttime routine. Also, ginger tea is commonly enjoyed after a meal, as it can potentially help digestion (read more about ginger aiding digestion on Medical News Today).

How Much Ginger Should I Put in My Tea?

It depends on how strong and gingery you like your drink. I find that a 1/2-inch piece of ginger (thinly sliced) for every 1 cup of water is perfect. However, if you want it on the stronger side, you can increase the ginger to a 1-inch piece (thinly sliced) for 1 cup of water.

Do You Peel Ginger Before Boiling?

You don’t have to peel ginger before boiling. However, just make sure to scrub it and rinse it well to remove any dirt.

Is Ginger Tea a Cold Remedy?

There are a lot of natural home remedies that people swear by when they’re sick. Things like gargling with warm salt water, eating chicken noodle soup, and sipping hot drinks (such as ginger tea) can all help provide temporary relief from symptoms such as sore throat and congestion.

Read more about what cold remedies are worth trying on Mayo Clinic.

More Soothing Hot Drinks to Try

• Oat Tea with Cinnamon and Honey
• Rose Latte Recipe with Vanilla
• Spiced Chamomile Tea Latte

Disclaimer: Please note that I am NOT a doctor, medical practitioner, or nutritionist of any kind. Nothing in this post should be construed as medical or nutrition advice. If you need medical advice you should immediately seek a physician’s care.

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on January 5, 2018 and updated on February 16, 2024.