An easy way to make ginger tea with lemon and honey to warm up during the chillier months. See how quickly this hot herbal drink comes together using a couple of shortcuts.
CONTENTS
Ginger Tea from Scratch
Ginger tea made from scratch may seem daunting, but it’s actually super simple.
- Fresh ginger tea made from scratch is a whole lot better than ginger tea from a tea bag.
- The secret to making fresh ginger tea quick and easy is by grating fresh ginger. With this trick, tea is steeped and ready to drink in just 5 minutes!
- A little lemon (for vitamin C) and honey (to soothe the throat and to sweeten) makes it tasty.
Looking for more hot herbal tea recipes? Try Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea, Honey Citron Tea, and Hibiscus Tea.
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh ginger
Find ginger root in the produce section of your supermarket. Look for firm pieces that look plump and don’t get ones that look shriveled. You can break off as much as you need from a bigger piece when you buy. - Lemon
Sliced lemons or lemon juice both work. - Honey
Use any kind of honey you have available. - Filtered water
Tea is mostly made of water so use better water.
Steps to Make Ginger Tea
For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to see the recipe.
- Boil water.
Making tea is easier when you use an electric kettle with temperature setting to boil water. - Peel and grate ginger.
Grate ginger straight into the teapot. - Slice half a lemon.
- Add lemon slices and honey into the teapot and steep.
You can add the honey after the steep if you prefer. - Strain solids and pour hot tea into a teacup.
Notes & Tips
- Instead of sliced lemons, you can also use the juice from half a lemon.
- If lemon is too acidic, try Meyer lemons which are sweeter and less acidic than regular lemons.
- In the summer, make the drink iced and top it with some sparkling water for a zingy and refreshing drink.
- Add as much or little ginger as you like. For two cups of water, I’m using an inch of ginger root. I like the flavor to be strong but if you want a milder taste, use less ginger root.
Questions You May Have
There’s no caffeine at all in ginger tea. You can drink it all day without worrying about it keeping you up at night.
You can grate ginger ahead of time and freeze it. Store it in a resealable plastic bag, flattening it before freezing. When you need some grated ginger, snap off a piece.
Yes!
There are claims that you destroy the good enzymes in honey if you add it to boiling hot water. If you’re worried about this, add the honey to your teacup after the tea has steeped and poured.
Avoid buying fresh ginger root that’s shriveled and dry. Look for plump and firmness. It’s sold by weight don’t be afraid to break off a piece of the freshest ginger root you see in the pile if it’s too big.
More Herbal Tea Recipes
- Citron Tea from Scratch
- Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea
- Herbal Medicinal Tea
- How to Make Hibiscus Tea Properly
- 15 Herbal Tea Recipes
Quick & Easy Ginger Tea from Scratch
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups water
- ½ lemon thinly sliced
- 1 inch fresh ginger root
- 1 tablespoon honey
INSTRUCTIONS
- Boil water.Use filtered water for the best quality ginger tea. I like to set my electric kettle with a temperature setting to 208°F. If you’re boiling water on the stovetop, let the water get to a boil.
- Peel and grate ginger.Peel one inch piece of fresh ginger root and grate into a teapot with a strainer or an infuser.
- Slice half a lemon.Thinly slice half a lemon. No need to take out the seeds since the tea filter or infuser from the teapot will make sure the seeds don't get into your tea. Add the lemon slices into the teapot. Make sure to wash the lemon well since the rind will steep with the tea.
- Add honey.You can add the honey after the steep if you prefer.
- Strain solids and pour hot tea into a teacup.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
NUTRITION
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Hi!!
I generally heat my water to temp in an electric kettle. Then I put the things that I am going to steep into my infuser & that into large Yeti like cup (covered to steep) and drink right from there. (adding honey after i take out the infuser). Would it be fine to add the grated ginger to my loose leaf tea, in the infuser??
Thank you!
Hi Andrea, yup!
I love everything ginger. A word of caution though…while ginger doesn’t have any caffeine, it is a stimulant. I realized this after making a mocktail with it during Dry January. It kept me up all night! But I think this recipe is a great replacement for morning coffee or to cozy in on snowy days. Like today! 🙂
Can you leave a link for the teapot and glass drinking cup?
Hi Teddy, the teapot from here (https://amzn.to/2Rq9J6Y) and the glasses are from cb2 (https://www.cb2.com/cantina-glass-mug/s190268).
Lovely! This is probably a silly question but I’d I wanted more of a ginger latte, would it be similar? Perhaps hold the lemon & less water before adding frothed (plant) milk?
Thanks so much!
Hi Sherala, yup, that should work!
I noticed that actually there is no tea used in this recipe?
Hi Yeyen, yup, no real tea. It’s tea in the sense that it’s an herbal infusion.
Hi what if I put to much Ginger a little more than a inch maybe around 4 inches would 2 more cups of with no Ginger just lemon juice take away anything
Hi Steph, yes, you can dilute the ginger by adding more water, lemon, and honey.
Tried this recipe today. It was delicious! I used my french press. It was so simple to make. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Hi Cala, wonderful to hear!
I grinded 1/2 ginger root to a fine consistency and 2 whole lemon slices, soak them in honey in a mason jar in the fridge. Hope that works too?
Hi Mag, I think so! When you brew it, you should be able to taste the ginger.
Can this recipe be frozen into ice cube trays and used as iced tea.
Hi Debra, I don’t see why not!
I was going to ask if a French Press would work in the same way as the tea pot with strainer. But someone mentioned using the french press for a smaller batch of the tea. I am going to try it for sure!
Hi Leslie, yes, a French press would work the same way! You can definitely use one to make this drink.
I would think very thin slices should be the same, if I don’t have a grater? As long as there’s more exposed surface area of the ginger exposed to the hot water to steep?
Hi Cat, yes, very thin slices should work well too!
I accidentally left my ginger water out overnight after leaving it too cool- is it still good?
Hi Leah, I wouldn’t drink it. I don’t like to eat or drink anything that’s been left out for more than 2 hours.