Homemade Ginger Tea with Lemon and Honey

Jump to Recipe

Have you ever been so cold that you need more than just a blanket (or five million layers) on top of you?

I’m constantly cold in the winter and can NOT hang with temperatures that are… ummmm… below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, I know that for some of you (including my husband), that is absolutely ridiculous, but I get cold so easily and it is SO difficult for me to warm up. 

My solution? This ginger tea! 

Not only is it a warm temperature, but it is also slightly spicy (in a good way) so the flavor is warming as well. And y’all, it is the best way to warm up on a freezing cold day — whether your definition of freezing cold is 50 degrees or -50 degrees.

The best companion for a little small-business holiday shopping 

One of my favorite things to do while cozying up with this tea is to get a head start on my Christmas shopping. This year, I’m trying to do most of my holiday shopping from small businesses, and of course, it usually takes more time to receive anything ordered from small businesses compared to Amazon — so I need to start now!

I love shopping small, though, because I know that when I order something, there’ll be a real person on the other end who does a little happy dance. 

And in the current world, I’ll do everything in my power to make more mini celebrations happen! 

If you aren’t used to shopping small, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Independent bookstores
• Independent fitness stores
• Local plant stores (one of my favorites to look for!)
• Local coffee roasters/coffee shops
• Gift cards to Mom & Pop restaurants
• Local home decor boutiques with hand crafted items
• Local wineries, breweries, and/or distilleries 
• Etsy for hand-crafted items from outside your area

Health benefits of ginger tea

Anyway, back to the tea! I love making this super easy (and cheap) recipe because it not only warms me up, but it provides excellent health benefits. Correlations have been drawn between consuming ginger and:

• Reduction in nausea, specifically nausea related to morning sickness
• Reducing blood pressure
• Aiding with weight loss
• Easing headaches and migraines 

Ginger is also considered anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich. What better way to get your daily dose of ginger than with a delicious, soul-warming tea?

Though it’s not technically vegan, I added honey to this tea (1) because I think the flavor is fabulous, but also (2) because there are added benefits to consuming it. 

I strongly encourage local honey for so many reasons as well. Yes, it’s more expensive, but seriously, aren’t most high-quality things more expensive? According to Healthline, local honey:

• Is an excellent source of antioxidants
• Can soothe your sore throat
• Has antibacterial properties

My mom also swears by eating a tablespoon of local honey a day to help with seasonal allergies during the changing seasons. There is little to no actual research on this, but hey, if you have those seasonal allergies, it’s always worth a try! 

I also add lemon juice to give this tea a boost in Vitamin C. It’s not enough to reach the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, so definitely continue to eat a wide variety of plants to get your daily amount. Vitamin C helps support your immune system, so in a world where there is a global pandemic, I will take all the Vitamin C I can get! 

No, Vitamin C is not a miracle supplement, and it will not prevent anyone from getting COVID-19. Please continue to physically distance from others and WEAR A MASK, PEOPLE! 

How to make ginger tea

To make this super easy recipe, all you have to do is boil fresh ginger and add the honey and lemon juice at the end. 

If you are vegan, use either agave or maple syrup to sweeten it, or don’t sweeten at all. I find this tea to be refreshing and warmth-inducing even with no sweetener. 

I didn’t add specific measurements for the honey or the lemon juice because everyone’s taste buds are different. These ingredients are simple to adjust according to your flavor preference, so please experiment to find your ideal ingredient ratio! 

If you’re looking to warm up this December and need a minute to chill out this holiday season, grab an oversized sweater, put on some music, and go make this tea! 

If you’re looking for more cozy recipes to warm you up on cold days this winter, check out our Instant Pot Maple Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal and Creamy Butternut Squash Soup.

Tag us on instagram @plumsavory and leave us a rating/comment on this post when you try it. We love hearing from y’all! 

Happy holiday season! 
Elana