Honey, Lemon, Ginger Tea

This recipe for honey, lemon, ginger tea or tonic is a great way to ease the discomfort of sore throats and coughs. If you are looking for a way to promote good health, honey should definitely be a part of your food plan. The consumption of natural foods has many benefits on our well being.  Use this easy recipe to make your own tonic infused with the natural goodness of lemon and ginger.

Soothing Tea with Honey, Lemon and Ginger

You don’t have to reach for the latest concoction at the supermarket. As the season for sniffles or allergy effects approaches, consider using some everyday items to create a soothing drink.

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Let’s combine a few common items that you may already have on hand to create a natural tonic. It is very easy to do. Best of all, you may already have what you need to make your herbal honey lemon ginger tea.

These ingredients have been combined in many combinations to provide people with added potassium, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Many believe they detoxify their systems and promote better health.

Ingredients

You do not need many items for this simple project. Even though I have not listed it, you do need a little patience and prep time. Make your tea ahead of time so you have some on hand.

• honey
• lemon
• ginger

Honey:

I always recommend raw honey. It has not been over processed and still maintains all its natural goodness. If the label does not say raw – it probably is not. Don’t be fooled by the marketing term “natural” or “pure”, they do not mean the same as raw.

Raw honey has not been heated during the bottling process. If you already have some on hand and are not sure about whether or not it is raw – don’t fret. You can use it and it will still be good.

This gift from the beehive is used in so many ways. It is made by bees from plant nectar gathered from blooming plants. It is a perfect food for the bees to store over Winter.

The long lasting properties of honey makes it a wonderful food product for long term storage for us as well.  Every home should have a jar of honey in the pantry.

If you purchase a pint jar you will have a little left over after you add in the solid ingredients. Store your honey properly and it will last virtually forever.

The flavor or variety your choose does not really matter. Simple wildflower is just fine. There is no need to use expensive types of honey in a tonic recipe.

Lemons:

Lemons are a popular fruit and used in the kitchen in many ways. They are an excellent source of antioxidants like Vitamin C and others.

Providing several different vitamins, lemon juice is a traditional ingredient in hot teas. However, due to the strong taste – lemons are not commonly ingested alone! You only need 1 for this tea but make sure it is a plump juicy one.

Ginger:

Ginger is another popular home remedy for relief from coughs and sore throats. It also has antibacterial properties and is antiviral and an antioxidant. You will find ginger as a common ingredient in many home remedies.

Keeping a root on hand is not a bad idea. It is well known to soothe stomach issues such as nausea, or vomiting and soothe indigestion. Ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Fresh ginger root is easily found in the produce section of your local supermarket. The small root systems remind me of daylily tubers. Choose a root that is plump and not too dried out. Avoid any roots that have soft spots or are very wrinkled.

Infusing Honey

Infusing honey is easy.  Start with one that is mild flavored (not buckwheat) and warm it to 115°F -don’t over heat. Add the flavoring of your choice.  In this tutorial, we are using lemon and ginger.

The jar with additives is then allowed to sit for a period of a few days or more.  After that time, some recipes direct you to strain it to remove solids. I suggest you do so as that helps prevent spoiling.

You will need a jar. I choose the pint size jar which will hold approximately 22 ounces (net weight). Honey is sold and measured by weight not volume.

1. Wash and dry ginger root and lemon. Then peel the ginger and slice into thin pieces. Likewise, slice the lemon trying to retain as much juice as possible.

2. Place lemon and ginger slices into a clean dry glass jar. Make sure you have a good lid.

3. Slowly pour raw honey (that you have warmed) over the ingredients inside until the jar is full. Then place the lid on and sit in a warm location.

How to Use it

Once this process is complete, you have a jar of concentrated goodness. Don’t drink it straight – that might be a bit too much.

My favorite way to use it is to create a hot tea with honey. Add 2 large tablespoons to a cup of regular hot tea. Of course, you can dilute your tonic with plain hot water if you prefer.

You can add more if you wish to make a stronger brew. Choose the amount that your taste buds prefer.   It feels very good on a tender throat. This tea certainly helps me feel better while I am waiting on my system to kick the germs.

Shelf-Life of Infused Honey Teas

After a couple of days, you may want to store your infusion mix in the frig . The refrigerator helps prolong freshness.

While pure honey will last indefinitely, infused may not.  This is especially true when we are adding any liquid.

When using wet ingredients such as lemons, the honey will pull the moisture from the lemon slices and become thinner.  High water content honey can ruin or ferment.  If your jar begins to smell yeast-like, it is time to throw it out and make a new batch. 

This is why I like to make it in a small pint jar.  For one person, you might even consider using a half-pint size.

This is just one of the many wonderful uses for honey. Enjoy this sweet treat the next time your family needs a soothing hot drink. Another popular recipe uses honey and cinnamon – give that a try.

We often think of honey as a great natural sweetener for recipes but it has a lot more to offer. It has been used for centuries in health and beauty products such as : burn salves and bath products.

Combine these 3 wonderful ingredients to produce a soothing tonic for minor cold or flu symptoms. I even use it when my sinuses are causing my throat to be sore.

This is not a cure but a boost to your immune system. It may provide some much needed relief. For a great companion product – make some natural vapor rub too!

And remember, honey and lemon can team up to make a great drink for Summer too. Try some homemade lemonade sweetened with honey.