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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.
Hi there. After a 3rd terrible bout of bronchitis, I have started drinking and infusion of lemongrass, ginger, fresh lime juice and honey. I could not eat for 2 weeks and was too ill to move. I find this drink very soothing and was looking around for alternatives and found your recipe as it seems a good idea to keep some ready to use. I wonder if adding lemongrass to your version would work.
Hi Hazel,
I think lemongrass is a great idea. But so the flavor doesn’t become overwhelming, I’d suggest adding the lemon grass when you’re ready to add the hot water…instead of letting it sit in the lemon, ginger, honey mixture.
Hope this helps!
Do you think that it is safe to can?
Hi Dana,
I love to can! During the fall my house is packed with apples, tomatoes, pumpkin…you name it! But because of the risks, I’d suggest making this recipe + keeping it in your refrigerator for up to two months instead of canning.
Hello!
This drink seems super delicious and the photos are nice.
The actual health benefit is questionable though, because 2 out of 3 ingredients lose their immune system benefits when dissolved in hot water.
Another thing is that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in lemon is fairly unstable, and keeping it in a fridge destroys it too.
Please consider preparing fresh mixture and dissolving it in cold water for an actual helth effect.
Hi Barbara,
We love hearing from our community. And while we love our recipes it’s always good to hear others opinions + insight.
Over how much time in the fridge before it’s ready to use?
Hi Mytwocents,
No need to wait. Once you’ve assembled your ingredients, feel free to enjoy right away!
I made and it’s amazing. I’m loving it.
It’s delicious and help me to treat my through.
Thanks!
Hi Ana,
YAY! We’re so happy to hear you’re loving our All-Natural Remedy. We love it too! Cheers to keeping cold + flu season at bay!
This looks awesome – ginger is one of my favourite flavours! Definitely need this at the moment in snowy London to boost my immune system!
Hi Roslyn,
We love this recipe + it’s immunity benefits. Hope it’s just what you need to avoid cold + flu season!
This looks great!
<3 <3 <3
Love your website and your recipes! I just signed up your Plant-Based Cleanse challenge and am so excited about the program ! Thank you. :))
Thanks for blendin’ with us, ChihYu!
Thanks for your help
I would like to beat the flu and build immunity naturally
Hi Fern,
Looking to boost your immunity during cold + flu season. Check out some of our tips through the link below…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/ginger-lemon-honey-tea
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/immune-system-booster
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/superfoods-list
A fabulous recipe; drink it with hot water in lieu of (my first cup of) coffee every morning. THEN… on Friday evenings…
– 30g of liquid
– 1 heaping TBS Lemon/Ginger bits
– 6oz White Wine
– 4oz Ginger Ale
Maaaaybe not the same health benifits but WOW!!! Thank you for this amazing go-to recipe!
Thanks for sharing, DogRiverDude!
I’m about to make my 3rd jar of this. We love it as a soothing warm beverage any time.
* I find it works better for us if I shred the lemon and ginger (I used a mandoline slicer on it’s smallest julienne setting.) Smaller pieces seem to flavor the honey more, and scoop easily out of the jar and into a mug when ready to drink.
* I make this by the quart, and for us, this was fine for 6 months in the fridge.
Thanks for the idea SGS team!
Thanks for sharing your tips, Laura! <3
Hello!
This sounds wonderful, was wondering if adding Garlic in there would help even more, what do you think??
Hi Martine,
Due to the risk of botulism, I always suggest adding garlic to your mug when you’re ready to enjoy this all-natural remedy, instead of adding it during the prep process.
Can children have this drink? What’s the youngest age?
The youngest child currently in my family, is 3 years old, first drank this at the age of 2.
Hi Moni,
Great question! We always suggest checking with your physician before sharing our natural remedies with little ones.
In speaking to my family member who let their child have this at the age of 2, she did consult her physician first. Thank you for posting that. I should have to begin with. 😉
All sound fantastic.
I must start preparing before I get caught by the flu.
I dislike the feeling of aches and pains plus the steaming of the eyes and the nose.
Enjoy your concoction, everyone.
Here’s to keeping the cold + flu at bay this winter!
Cheers 🙂
I am from the West Indies, I grew up with that exact recipe! The taste is awesome. Especially for people and children who do not like to taste medicines. Thank you for reminding me of my grandmother.
Hi Michelle,
Too cool! We wish we grew up with this recipe. But we’re making up for it now!