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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.
Can you also
Take this like a syrup? Instead of steeping in water, just give a teaspoon to a child?
Hey Maggie,
Our suggest was to take a teaspoon and add it to hot water and make into a tea.
Although if you did want to take a teaspoon of it directly I don’t see any issues with that since it’s just honey, lemon, and ginger.
Hope that helps!
I love this, but my mixture has never congealed or gotten thick. I’m using a variety of raw honeys. From purchased at the source to supermarket raws. The lemon seems to thin it out. Suggestions???
Hey Andrea,
Hhmm it doesn’t have to thicken up and if you have all the ingredients that should be good. Maybe try to add in less lemon and see if hat makes a difference.
Hope that helps!
i see with skin on ginger would be most effective only being the best part its where most vitimins are in the fruit of the plants or in the leaves
Hey Bridget,
You can totally leave the skin on your ginger if you prefer it that way. We are always a fan of not wasting anything!
Do you peel the ginger first or leave the skin on? This looks amazing and can’t wait try 🙂
Disregard. If I zoom in, it looks like the skin is on 🙂
Glad you got your answer, Susan!! 🙂
The best thing in the world!!!! I drink this like a normal person would juice everyday. My favourite drink!
Hey Sophie,
That is so awesome! Thank you for sharing how much you love this recipe!
This will be helpful
Hey Krishna,
Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Due to diet restrictions, I can’t have ginger. Do you have any recommendations for a substitute? (Cinnamon, basil, and rosemary are also out.)
Hey Amy,
There really isn’t a substitute for ginger that would give the same benefits. However you can always add in some nutmeg or more cinnamon to this recipe.
Hope that helps!
I will definitely make this. Glad I found this recipe. I had a bad cold a few weeks ago. Like Ada I’ve been adding a teaspoon of ground ginger along wirh fresh lime juice to my regular tea. It worked fantastically.
Hey Kathleen,
So happy you found this recipe too! Those are two amazing ingredients to add to this recipe. Enjoy!!
I don’t have a Mason jar. Can I use Pyrex bowl with a lid instead?
Hey Phebe,
Yes you can use whatever you have on hand that works best for you.
I grew up on foods such as this for healing purposes. Back in Kenya, we hardly ever went to the doctors.I try ti get my husband (he is Caucasian Canadian) to use homemade remedies but he just won’t. Home made remedies also taste good and you don’t get any chemicals into your body.
Hey Rashida,
We truly believe that natural is the best for your body but sometimes it’s hard to get others interested. We just have to keep trying 🙂
How long does it take to congeal?
Hey Melanie,
Letting it sit over night it should be nice and thick the next day.
This remedy has never let me down.
Hey Rach,
It really is the best!!
First time l have tried this and I love it..such a nice comforting drink.
Thank you so much.
Hey Sandra,
Yay!!! So happy that you love this recipe.
This a good remedy for the cold and flu. Thanks…
Hey Paula,
Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed this recipe!
the recipe sounds great. I found this for an 80 year old. he wants to know how much honey
Hey Judy,
.
Great question! You fill up the jar with as much honey as you want. We normally fill the jar all the way up.
Hope that helps!
how long does it last in the fridge??
Hey Natalie,
It can last a few months in the fridge. We usually use it up by then but as long as it looks and smells good you should be fine keeping it.