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When flu and cold season kicks into gear, I start wiping down the shopping carts, blending elderberry smoothies, and making this homemade ginger lemon honey tea. It’s the best way I’ve found to treat a cold, cough, or flu naturally.
Ginger Lemon Honey Tea is a natural cold remedy drink that combines ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties, lemon’s vitamin C boost, and honey’s soothing qualities. This homemade tea for congestion helps relieve symptoms and supports the immune system, providing comfort during cold and flu season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need three ingredients to make this Ginger Lemon Honey Tea. I like to batch it out into a large mason jar and store in the fridge until needed.
- Fresh lemons: use organic lemons or really scrub the peel to remove any pesticide or wax residue.
- Fresh ginger root: Found in the produce section.
- Raw honey: The natural sweetness of honey balances the tartness of the lemon + ginger. Use raw or manuka honey for the best results.
How to Make Ginger Lemon Honey Tea
This ginger honey tea is perfect for soothing a sore throat and providing a comforting beverage in just a few minutes. You can always make it fresh with hot water, slice of lemon, ginger, and honey, or you can make it in bulk like I do. Here’s my preferred method:
- Slice lemons and ginger and alternate layering into an airtight jar (ex: mason jar).
- Slowly, pour honey over the lemons and ginger and fill jar to the top. Seal tightly.
- Store in the refrigerator until needed.
storage Tip
I love using mason jars to store my home remedies, like this ginger lemon honey tea that’s in a quart-size mason jar with a wide mouth.
Ginger Lemon Honey Tea Benefits
I use this all-natural home remedies for cough as my first defense when we do get sick. It tastes amazing, makes me feel better quickly and speeds up recovery. Here’s why…
- Reduces the inflammation and swelling in the body when fighting off a common cold. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and neutralize the free radicals in the body.
- Breaks down mucus and alleviates congestion: Lemon has natural acidity to help break down mucus as well as alleviate congestion.
- Helps you sweat out the toxins in your body, which is helpful when you have a cold or flu. Ginger contains a bioactive compound called gingerol, which is known to be the strong medicinal part of ginger. It’s also a helpful home remedy for cough, settling upset stomachs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats.
- Natural cough suppressant thanks to the honey. It can also improve the body’s ability to fight infection and decrease the risk of fevers.
Common Questions
Lemon ginger honey tea offers numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, aiding digestion, and relieving cold symptoms. The combination of ginger and honey tea provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, while the lemon adds a dose of vitamin C. Together, these ingredients can help soothe sore throats, reduce nausea, and improve overall wellness.
Yes, lemon ginger tea can be an effective home remedy for cough relief. The ginger acts as a natural expectorant, helping to loosen mucus and ease coughing. To make ginger lemon tea for cough, simply add a bit more ginger when preparing the tea and sip it slowly. The honey helps soothe the throat, making it easier to manage coughing fits.
The lemon ginger tea benefits can be enhanced by the addition of honey, which is known for its antibacterial and soothing properties. Ginger is excellent for digestion and reducing inflammation, while honey helps coat and calm an irritated throat. Together, ginger and honey tea can help alleviate symptoms of colds and flu, improve digestion, and provide a natural energy boost.
More Home Remedies for Cold and Flu
Thirteen years ago, I went on a wellness journey to discover the best home remedies for coughs, colds, flu, and whatever came our way. Here are a few recipes that have stuck with me over the years:
- Elderberry syrup: can be taken daily, and taken multiple times a day when experiencing cold or flu symptoms. And when you can make a medicinal syrup into popsicles for sore throats, I’m 100% here for it.
- Rawkstar fire cider: while this tonic is not for the faint of heart, it does wonders in limiting the life of a cold or the flu, and helps to strengthen the immune system along the way. This is one home remedy that’ll scare the cough right out of ya!
- Homemade vapor rub: this is a perfect natural remedy for cough + decongestant. Use it on the chest, as well as the feet to soothe.
Ginger Lemon Honey Tea
Ingredients
- 2 lemons organic
- 2 inch ginger root
- 1 cup raw honey
- 12-oz mason jar
Instructions
- Slice lemons and ginger.
- Place the lemon and ginger slices in the mason jar, alternating layers of each.
- Slowly, pour honey over the lemon and ginger. Allow the honey to sink down and around the lemon and ginger slices. Fill jar to the top with honey and seal tightly.
- Store in the refrigerator. Over time, the mixture will start to turn into a loose jelly.
- When you are in need of some soothing tea for cough, scoop 2-3 tablespoons into a mug full of hot water—be sure to scoop whole pieces of ginger and lemon. Allow to steep for 3-4 minutes and sip away.
Video
Notes
- Since lemons are going into this concentrate, make sure to wash them well before slicing.
- Use a jar with a tight-fitting lid to ensure this mixture stays protected.
- For best personal results, use raw, local honey that was made within the season you are using it.
HI,
How long will this last?
Hi Mary,
Our All-Natural Remedy will keep in your fridge for up to two months!
Cheers 🙂
Does it have to be raw honey to still be effective?
Devona
Hi Devona,
Great question! While raw honey is packed with additional immunity boosting compounds to help fuel your body (because it hasn’t been pasteurized or heated to high temperatures), non-raw honey will still sweeten the remedy + provide a great coating for your throat to help with coughing.
Hope this helps answer your question!
Can I use this for my 5 and 12 year old?
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for reaching out! As we’re not doctors or nutritions we suggest reaching out to your children’s physician just to be certain!
Cheers 🙂
My whole family uses this remedy, including my 7 and 15 year old kids.
Assuming there is no individual allergies or sensitivities/ contraindications (due to some specific health issues), all the components are great.
Hi there ladies!
I’m a bit confused on how many slices of ginger. It’s not too clear (to me) what you mean with the fingers reference. Sorry.
Hi Ruben,
Thanks for reaching out! Our finger analogy not working? No worries! Reach for two pieces of ginger that are about 2-3 inches long.
Cheers!
I have a really bad cough that is so awful that I end up throwing up until my stomach hurts. What recipe can you give me to try that will take me out of this misery that I’m in. I go throw cough drops like a kid in a candy store and that isn’t helping, nothing’s helps!
Hi Mary,
Oh no, we’re so sorry to hear you’re under the weather! The honey in our Lemon, Ginger, Honey: All-Natural Remedy works as an excellent cough suppressant!
Also, here are a few of our favorite tips on boosting your immune system!
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/immune-system-booster
And our favorite healing superfoods! Check out Elderberry Extract it’s a rawkstar superfood for calming your cough.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/superfoods-list
Sending plenty of healing vibes your way!
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this recipe. After reading it I have a question.
How long can this be kept in the fridge before I should discard it?
Thank you,
R. Singh
Hi Radesh,
Thanks for reaching out! Our Lemon, Ginger and Honey: All Natural Remedy will keep in your fridge for up to two months!
Cheers 🙂
I LOVE this natural cold remedy. I just wrote a blog post on natural cold and flu remedies and your recipe goes perfectly with it. I added your link to my resources. Thanks for the information!
Thank you so much for sharing, Jenna!!
I’m very excited about this home remedy. I made it last night but the raw honey (very thick kind, not liquidy) and the lemon juice seem to be separating from each other. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Jacquie,
Thanks for reaching out! We suggest layering the ginger, lemon, + honey so that even if you experience any separation when you take a big scoop you’ll still be adding all three ingredients to your warm water.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing this great recipe. I usually try different home remedies a few weeks ago I was really sick and nothing seemed to work. I think I’m doing it wrong :/
This load of information is really helpful.
Hi Cynthia,
We hope this recipe is just the trick to get you back to feeling great!
how long do you have to let it set before you can start using it?
Hi Heather,
No need to let it set! Enjoy right away! 🙂
Is it possible to substitute the raw honey with agave syrup?
Hi Joann,
Thanks for reaching out. While agave syrup will add sweetness, you’ll be missing some of the major health benefits provided by raw honey in this recipe that help you feel better sooner!
Hope this helps!
This has to be the yummiest cold and flu remedy EVER!
I could totally substitute my “rather generous” coffee intake with this delicious drink. Is there a maximum daily dosage or have I finally found a way to get off my caffeine-crack?
Hi Theressa,
Looking to lower your coffee intake, this is a great go-to!! You may also love our Spiced Almond Milk. Check it out here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/weight-loss-drinks
How long can this stay in the fridge to be used? Love the idea!!
Hi Casey,
Thanks for reaching out! Our All-Natural Remedy will keep in your fridge for up to two months.
Is it ok to use accasia honey? It has the least taste of honey and my kids like it better. Thank you so much for this health boosting recipe. I will definitely try this and keep a jar in my fridge all the time all year round!
Hi Jeanette,
Of course! Acacia honey is a great choice when making our All-Natural Remedy. We do suggest ensuring your honey is raw for it’s major nutritional benefits!
Doesn’t pouring hot water over raw honey render it inert (kill the beneficial enzymes, etc.)?
Hi Cjames,
Thank you for reaching out + sharing your concern. Yes, heating honey to high temperatures as seen in pasteurization will lower the raw honey’s enzyme and nutrient level. We suggest using hot, not boiling water, which will have limited effects on the honey’s benefits compared to the temperature levels you may see in pasteurization or industrial processing.
Hope this helps!
Can you use ground ginger?
Hi Jeanne,
Great question! While ground ginger can substitute for fresh ginger in many recipes, when looking to fight colds or the flu fresh is best.
Thank you!