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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.

Open jar of homemade Ginger Lemon Honey Tea next to a wooden spoon.

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 for lemon ginger tea with honey, including raw honey, ginger root, lemon slices, whole lemon, a knife, and storage jar.

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.
Pouring raw honey into Ginger Lemon Honey Tea jar.

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:

  1. Cut lemons and fresh ginger root into thin slices.
  2. Alternate layering into an airtight jar (ex: mason jar).
  3. Slowly, pour honey over the lemon slices and fresh ginger root and fill jar to the top. Seal tightly.
  4. Store in the refrigerator until needed.
  5. 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.

Ginger lemon honey tea for cough home remedy in a glass jar surrounded by sliced ingredients.

Common Questions

What are the benefits of Ginger Lemon Honey Tea?

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.

Can Ginger Lemon Honey Tea help with a cough?

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.

What are the benefits of using ginger and honey in tea?

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.
Large mason jar of Ginger Lemon Honey Tea.
All natural ginger honey lemon tea cough remedy in a glass jar.
4.95 (55 votes)

Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

Ginger Lemon Honey Tea is renowned for its benefits in soothing cold and flu symptoms. If you’re looking for a natural remedy to combat congestion, heal a sore throat and boost immunity, this recipe is for you.
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Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Serves: 10 servings
Author: Jen Hansard

Ingredients 

  • 2 lemons organic
  • 2 inch ginger root
  • 1 cup raw honey
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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

Helpful Tools

mason jar (pint)

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 110 kcal | Carbohydrates: 30 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 1 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 2 mg | Potassium: 53 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 28 g | Vitamin A: 5 IU | Vitamin C: 12 mg | Calcium: 8 mg | Iron: 1 mg

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Comments

    2. But it wont be a jelly yet?

      Can you just make it with the 3 ingredients anytime?

    3. It won’t be jelly right away, and yes you can make it 3 ingredients anytime. 🙂

    1. Hi Tricia.

      Great question. We haven’t had it in our fridge long enough to know how long the actually keep time is. The longest I’ve had it in my fridge is a month, give or take. Once we make it, we use it up pretty quickly.

    1. Hey Deanna.

      Great question. We haven’t had it in our fridge long enough to know how long the actually keep time is. The longest I’ve had it in my fridge is a month, give or take. Once we make it, we use it up pretty quickly.

    1. Hi Yvette.

      You can leave the lemon out if you are allergic. Hope that helps.

  5. Great Post!

    I’d like to suggest also making a red onion syrup where the onions are covered in honey until the “juice” from the onion is pulled out. Red onions are important because of the quercetin contained in the red/purple color. Secondly, the liquid onion syrup is good for coughs (it can also be made with any kind of sugar layered with onions, but the honey is better. The concoction must be soaked and shaken every day for about 2 weeks to reach highest potency before taking.

    Second suggestion is a “tea” concoction with hot water, lemon slice, dash of cayenne and touch of honey. I’m guessing you may have heard of this recipe..

    Reply

  6. Does “2 piece of fresh ginger (about the size of your pointer and middle finger)” mean a 2-inch piece of ginger which has a root with a thickness of my pointer and middle finger held together?

    Reply

    2. Hey Carmen.

      Yes, that sound about right. Ginger can be hard to measure, since ever piece varies.

  8. Seems nice! I do it in another way though; when I was in hospital and just got my first child and had a terrible cough a midwife gave me this tip and I’ve been making it ever since (5 years): I peel a piece of ginger, I shred it in a jug, pour boiling water over it and let it stay so til I think it’s spicy enough, 15-30 min. Pour it in a mug, like half of the mug, then more hot water over and some lemon and a spoon honey, makes a great tea! Keep the rest of the ginger-tea in the fridge and make a cup of tea at least one time a day during the cold or just to keep the flu away!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing, Linda. I am glad these ingredients have helped you in the past. Cheers + Happy Holidays.

  9. Hi!
    Made this last night and it smells amazing!
    Question though…how long should it take to start to turn to jelly?!

    Thanks x

    Reply

    1. We usually have used it up before it is a solid jelly, but it would take a few weeks. 🙂

    2. Thanks!
      It’s going down a treat! May have to make some more soon!

  10. I am pretty sure the vitamin C will lose its potency long before 2 months. Why not keep the honey & ginger in the fridge and add fresh lemon when you are ready to drink it?

    Reply

  11. Do you scoop out just the honey in warm water? OR do you put some lemon and ginger in the water too?

    Reply

    1. Hey Amy.

      Great question. Scoop out the honey and a piece of lemon and ginger. 🙂

  12. One of the Hockey Mom’s (Coaches Wife) made this for her husband says he really liked it and it helped a lot. I would like to try it. But what is raw honey? Can you use the BillyBee Honey?

    Reply

    1. Hey Sheila.

      Thanks for the comment! 🙂 Raw honey would mean that is uncooked to make sure all the nutrients and enzymes are still in there. If you can’t find a honey at your store with the label ‘raw’ then go ahead and use BillyBee. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it.

  13. We have had ours in the fridge for several weeks and it still has not jellied, other than about a half inch on the bottom. The rest is still liquid. Is it okay to use this way? Any ideas as to what might cause it to be this way (so we can try something different next time)?

    Reply

    1. Hey Angie.

      Thanks for the comment. Is your mixture in a sealed container?

  14. Greetings! Ty for this awesome recipe! I’m just curious, what makes you say it’s shelf life is 2 months? 😀

    Reply

    1. Hey ChiquitA.

      Thanks for reaching out to us and for the question. The shelf-life in the fridge, if stored in a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid, is 2+ months. Some people say honey can last years. But honestly our doesn’t stick around very long once we make it, couple weeks, tops. 🙂 If you don’t feel like it is edible, then just throw it out, better safe than sorry. Hope that helps.

  15. Can I Ninja blend all the ingredients together then refrigerate? Thank you so much for the great information!

    Reply

    1. Hey Laura.

      Great question. We haven’t tried that method, but if that is something you would like to try, go for it! 🙂

    2. I tried that and it wasn’t as good. It turns mushy and I couldn’t take it. But I have been chopping ginger and lemon in small pieces and taking 2-3 spoonful of it every morning with the water. Never tried with hot water as tea – but will now!

  16. I love these ingredients, especially to bust up your cold symptoms. The Vitamin C in the lemons is fantastic and the ginger not only has health benefits, but the spice helps cut through nasty post-nasal drip. My boyfriend is not a huge fan of ginger, so I put mine in a squeezable honey bear so he can squeeze out the flavored honey, and I can open the top and scoop out the lemons and ginger.

    Reply

    1. Great thinking, Leigh! 🙂 You are so right, the ingredients are great immunity boosters.

    1. Hey Janene. Great question. Yes, please peel your ginger. 🙂

    3. Hey Marie.

      Either way will work, it’s personal preference. 🙂

  18. How much raw honey to use for your recipe? (Lemon, Honey, Ginger for
    Cold and Flu Remedy).

    Reply

    1. Hey Julie.

      Once the lemon and ginger are inside, fill the rest of your 12oz. cup up with Raw Honey. 🙂 (Possible 6-8 ounces, depending on the size of your lemons and ginger) Hope that helps.

  19. Can I take this if not sick? Then if I get sick it won’t work? Is it a preventative mix? Thanks

    Reply

  20. The photograph shows clear honey, but the raw honey is not clear and does not pour. Should I warm the raw honey so that it pours?

    Reply

    1. Hey Marcia.

      If you need to warm your raw honey to pour it, go for it. 🙂