Learn how to make ginger tea from fresh ginger for delicious sipping as you harness this spice’s natural healing properties!
Fresh ginger tea can be enjoyed during the cool months as a warm elixir, and it can be enjoyed during the summer months served over ice. If you like this ginger tea, you might also like my other favorite spicy elixir, Homemade Turmeric Milk.
Homemade ginger tea is a delightful drink that is good for body and soul. In this post we’re sharing the health benefits of ginger tea and how to make ginger tea quickly and easily at home.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a root that is famous around the world for its potent, zingy flavor and its wide array of medicinal uses. Ginger has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and beyond for its myriad healing properties.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginger is used to bring warmth to the body, move fluids (it’s a mild diuretic), heal digestive issues (from stomach, to intestine to bowels), and promote joint health.
In Ayurvedic medicine tradition (the healing system in India and sister science to yoga), ginger is referred to as ‘the universal medicine’ as its naturally warming qualities are used to stoke the digestive fire, or agni. It’s known to assimilate nutrients from your food, help with joints, and improve lung and immune function.
Ginger also has a long culinary tradition in Japan, where it’s often pickled and served with sushi.
But it’s widely known throughout the West as a good digestive aid for upset tummies, and as an anti-nausea antidote for seasick sailors and morning sick mamas.
However, perhaps the best part about ginger is that is so dang delicious! Bright, spicy, sweet, zingy, and pungent are all words that can describe this lovable root, and all add a bright boost of flavor to your foods. If you are pregnant be sure to check with your health care provider about which teas are safe for pregnancy.
It’s worth noting that most of the health benefits of ginger also apply to turmeric, which can be used in similar ways. These medicinal roots have very different flavors, and you might find them in combination in food and drink. Learn more about the health benefits of turmeric how to make a ginger-turmeric elixir called Golden Milk (or turmeric milk).
What are the health benefits of ginger tea?
There are dozens of health benefits to eating ginger. Here is a list of just some of the ways ginger is good for your body and soul from Food Matters:
1. Ginger stimulates the appetite by firing up digestive juices. Eat (or drink) fresh ginger before a meal
2. Ginger helps improve absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.
3. Helps clear sinuses.
4. Helps when you’re feeling airsick, car sick or just have an upset tummy
5. Ginger helps reduce gas
6. Ginger works as a natural remedy for menstrual cramps
7. Along with its cousin turmeric, ginger is highly anti-inflammatory, and can bring join relief when used topically and internally. Learn more about how ginger is often as effective as prescription drugs for inflammation.
8. Warms you up: whether eaten as food, sipped as tea or used topically, ginger helps warm you up. A Acupuncturist friend of mine loves to use it to make warming foot soaks during the cold winter months and to help fight the flu naturally.
And one of the best, easiest way to enjoy ginger is with ginger tea. Ginger tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, and it’s deliciously warm on a cold winter’s night and wonderfully refreshing over ice during the warm months. There are lots of tea brands on the market that offer flavor variations, but there’s nothing that can compare to the taste of fresh brewed ginger. Make one cup or one pot, depending on how much spicy awesomeness you need today!
How to Make Ginger Tea at Home
1. Choose a ginger root that is firm, smooth and clean. It should not be wilted, soft or moldy.
2. You can use the skin, but give the ginger a little scrub before using; if you’d like to peel it, the best way to peel ginger is with the back of a spoon. Seriously! Try it!
3. Slice ginger thinly; use about 1-inch of ginger for one cup of tea, and use more depending on desired amount of tea. You can also use about 1 Tablespoon of fresh grated ginger per 2cups of water.
4. Bring desired amount of water to a boil.
5. Pour water over ginger in either a mug or teapot. Cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.
6. To add some caffeine and antioxidant power, add a green tea or black tea bag, and steep for a few minutes.
7. Add a swirl or honey or agave, and add a slice of lemon or lime for flavor.
8. Enjoy immediately, or let cool and serve over ice later. Keeps for a few days in the refrigerator.
Looking for easy ginger recipes? Here are some of our favorites:
Thai Green Curry
Vegetable Curry Noodle Soup
Ethiopian Chickpea Stew
Ginger Molasses Granola
Ginger Molasses Cookies
Image credits: botanical drawing from Wikipedia; ginger tea image from Shutterstock
