Ginger Lemon Honey Tea             Total time: 10 minutes             Steep Time: 5 minutes

A warming, moistening winter tonic for cold, dry air

Best for

  • Minnesota winters (Dec–Jan), especially when temps are below 0°F
  • Cold, dry air with scratchy throat or dry lungs
  • Dry throat, dry cough or dry lungs
  • Sluggish digestion from cold exposure

Qualities

Warming • Moistening • Gently activating (lung + digestion support)

Ingredients

  • Fresh ginger: 1 thumb-sized piece, julienned
  • Fresh lemon: 1/8–1/4 lemon, squeezed (add more juice if desired)
  • Black Assam tea: 1 tea bag or 1 tsp loose leaf (optional)
  • Honey: to taste (add once tea is cool enough to drink)
  • Boiling water: if skipping tea

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ginger. Julienne a fresh thumb-sized piece (skin on is fine).
  2. Steep. Put ginger in a mug. Add Assam tea (or skip tea and use hot water). Pour in boiling water and steep 3–5 minutes.
  3. Add lemon. Squeeze in 1/8–1/4 lemon. Optional: add the rind to the mug for extra aromatic oils.
  4. Sweeten wisely. Let cool slightly, then add honey once warm—not hot.
  5. Adjust & sip. Add more lemon juice if desired. Sip slowly.

How this helps

  • Ginger warms the throat, lungs and digestion and supports circulation in these areas.
  • Lemon brightens and generates fluids—helpful in dry, cold air.
  • Honey moistens and soothes throat and lungs.
  • Black tea (caffeine) gently activates and helps the “lung-opening” action with the ginger.

Variations

  • No caffeine: skip tea and use boiling water.
  • Increase moistening effect: slightly more honey.

See our Pear Tea for more ideas on moistening throat and lungs.

Note: Honey is best added after the drink cools a bit (warm, not hot).