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When flu and cold season kicks into gear, I start disinfecting shopping carts, blending this elderberry smoothie, and making my soothing homemade ginger lemon honey tea. This is a classic cold remedy that combines ginger’s anti-inflammatory magic, lemon’s vitamin C boost, and honey’s soothing qualities.
Breath in deep while sipping on this homemade cold and flu remedy to relieve congestion while strengthening your immune system during cold and flu season. No one likes being sick, but having a batch of this tea on hand can really make a difference.
Ginger Lemon Honey Tea Health Benefits
This all-natural home remedy is my first defense when I get sick. It tastes amazing, makes me feel better quickly and speeds up recovery. Here’s some of my favorite health benefits of this tea:
- Ginger helps reduce inflammation and swelling in the body when fighting off a common cold. Fresh lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and neutralize the free radicals in the body.
- Fresh lemon juice has natural acidity to help break down mucus as well as alleviate congestion.
- Ginger contains a bioactive compound called gingerol, which helps you sweat out the toxins in your body, which is helpful when you have a cold or flu. It’s also a helpful home remedy for cough, settling upset stomachs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats.
- Raw local honey is a natural cough suppressant. It can also improve the body’s ability to fight infection and decrease the risk of fevers. Raw honey and warm water also helps sooth a sore throat, fight infection and help with seasonal allergies.
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. You can create fresh lemon juice by squeezing by hand our using a juicer.
- Fresh ginger root: Found in the produce section. You’ll want to wash it well and cut into thin ginger slices. If you can’t find it, try using herbal ginger tea from a box.
- Raw honey: The natural sweetness of honey balances the tartness of the lemon + ginger. Use raw local honey or Manuka honey for the best results. Infants under one year of age should avoid honey as it can cause botulism.
How to Make Ginger Lemon Honey Tea
This ginger, lemon and honey tea is ideally made in a large batch to have all season long. It’s perfect for soothing a sore throat and relieving congestion in just a few minutes. You can 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:
- Cut lemons and fresh ginger root into thin slices.
- Alternate layering into an airtight jar (ex: mason jar).
- Slowly, pour honey over the lemon slices and fresh ginger root and fill jar to the top. Seal tightly.
- Store in the refrigerator until needed.
- When ready to use, add a large scoop to a mug of hot water. Stir well and sip it down.
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.
Common Questions
Lemon ginger honey tea offers numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, aiding digestion, and relieving cold symptoms. Ginger may help relieve nausea and increase digestive efficiency. 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 Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu
Thirteen years ago, I started on this wellness journey to discover the best home remedies for coughs, colds, and flu. Some we’re a bit wild and I only did once, whereas others were winners and I still use. 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% in.
- Homemade 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
- 16-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.
Is the hunger, lemon and honey safe for 3 year old
Hi Mz!
Since we are not health care professionals, we recommend speaking with your child’s pediatrician to determine if this mixture is safe for them, personally :). Everybody is so different.
Take care!
Is it ok to drink lemon ginger honey mixture to a pregnant woman ? Cause im pregnant and i have a cought for a few days . . And how many times do i have to drink this mixture in a day.. Thank you
Hi Jona!
Since we are not health care professionals, we’d recommend speaking with your doctor to determine what is best for you at this time :).
Take care!
Do I need to dried up the ginger & lemon after I wash it? Or I can just direct slice & drop the “after wash” ginger & lemon into the mason jar? Will it get mold?
Hi Grace,
It’s a great idea to pat your lemon and ginger dry prior to slicing!
Cheers! 🙂
I love lemon’ll love even more to this recipe. since it is a healthy food love sharing vees type quarreled revenue.
We love lemon too! Thanks for reaching out!
Hi! I tried to make this twice and somehow it actually gets super liquid instead of jelly-like. I think it’s because all the juices of the lemon and ginger get mixed with the honey and turn everything into a liquid mix. Is that ok or am I doing something wrong? Also, how long do you leave the jar in the refrigerator before using this mix?
Hi Alicia,
Thanks for reaching out! Based on the type of honey or ripeness of the lemons in your recipe the consistency may vary. So don’t worry! And no need to wait, enjoy your all-natural remedy once you’ve combined all of the ingredients!
Cheers!
Hi Cathy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out + let us know! We will definitely look into this further!
Thanks for being a rawkstar member of our SGS tribe! 🙂
This remedy sounds amazing, my question is I have acid reflux and am afraid to try the ginger I had a bad experience with it can you suggest a alternative to the ginger?
Hi Harold,
Sensitive to ginger? No worries! Simply leave it out of this recipe. You’ll still receive the health benefits of lemon + raw honey. Or you can experiment with other spices that are easier on your acid reflux to adjust the flavor!
how long does it take ? does it have an expiration ?
my baby is only 1 year,can i take it for her ?
Hi Rina,
Thank you so much for reaching out! This recipe is super simple to make and just takes a few minutes until you’re ready to enjoy. Once made, store in your refrigerator for up to two months, then it’s time to make another batch.
Looking to share this remedy with your little one? We definitely suggest reaching out to your pediatrician to determine what’s best for their little body.
As someone who has a cross-reactivity allergy to honey, is it possible to substitute it with something else? I find that the taste of agave tends to clash with ginger and lemon, but maybe coconut nectar or yacon syrup?
Hi Annie,
Honey leaving you with an allergic reaction? We’ve got you covered! Check out this article from One Green Planet for some great honey alternatives!
This is really on time for me. I’ve come down with a bit of a cold and I was trying to figure out what I could use to help my sore throat. Well, I added about a teaspoon of raw honey to my Morning Tonic this morning and it really did help. I’m thinking of making some extra Morning Tonic just so I can use it until I kick this cold.
Hi Polly,
Adding raw honey to your favorite hot beverages while fighting a cold is a great idea! We love how raw honey is a natural cough suppressant, while helping your body fight infection!
Hi, what kind of tea or home remedy do you recommend for digestive and colon cleanse?
Hi Teresa,
Hoping to help cleanse your digestive system? Try adding detoxing herbs like cilantro, parsley, mint + basil to your favorite recipes.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/fresh-herbs
Here are a few of our favorite recipes to help cleanse your system as well…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/cherry-beet-smoothie
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/honey-turmeric-smoothie
Cheers! 🙂
Love you SGS team. Love all the recipes and your attitude towards the whole program. Love how you answer all the queries. and justify to each and every questions. Thank you for everything I have learnt from you.
Hi Shilpa,
Thank you so much for all of your love + support! We’re so lucky to have you blendin’ with us!
Cheers!
I love this, but mine gets very runny. I haven’t used raw honey, is that why it doesn’t become a jelly like consistency?
Hi Crystal,
Great question! The type of honey will definitely effect the consistency of this recipe, so don’t worry if your All-Natural Remedy doesn’t thicken over time.
Cheers 🙂
Hi,
My name is Ben and I really got a bad back problem…and I was wondering, could this ginger medicine kinda help my back????
Thanks.
Hi Ben
Thanks for reaching out! The main purpose of our All-Natural Remedy is to help fight and keep cold and flu symptoms at bay. Do you know what’s causing your back pain? If it’s inflammation, ginger is a great option!!
Cheers!
It inflammation try pineapple is good for inflammation.Buy at Wal-Mart the cherry tart juice is the best.If u on meds be careful and google it first.The organic one is very good no sugar.Try to stay away from sugar.Hope it will work for u.
Thank you so much for this recipe- the tea is delicious! When I do not feel like drinking a cup of tea, I warm up a tablespoon of it in the microwave for a few seconds and voila!
Hi Fernanda,
Love it! This is my go-to tea even when I’m not fighting a cold or the flu!
What type of tea do you recommend?
Hi Shaunte,
Looking for great tea options? We love reaching for dandelion root tea, dandelion leaf, calendula tea, and nettle tea! All of them are great for cleansing your body!
Cheers 🙂