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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
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
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.
All my favourite things in one jar!
Thank you for the recipe, it never occurred to me to do this and I always buy pre-made teas.
I made your recipe yesterday and wanted to know, can I use it straight away or should it be left awhile before using?
Thanks Ladies 🙂
Hi Larresha,
No need to wait! Once made enjoy a hot glass of our lemon, ginger, honey: all-natural remedy.
Cheers 🙂
This recipe looks fantastic! I’m wondering how long it will keep for in the refrigerator? I’d like to make it soon to have it ready in case I am sick. Thanks!
Hi Angie,
Our All-Natural Remedy will keep in your fridge for several months. I usually keep mine for about 3-4 months, so I have it on hand all winter long!
Cheers to healthy + happy cold and flu season!
Hello!
I love all of your recipes! I have a question for you, what would be the difference between using raw organic honey and raw manukah honey?
Hi Claudia,
Great question! Manukah honey is specifically from New Zealand and Australia and is the only honey approved for medical treatment. It also has higher antioxidant levels compared to other raw honeys.
Hope this helps!
I had never heard of Manukah honey so decided to look it up and read about it. I would like to use something that is as medicinal as possible when making a drink such as this. The writing in Wikipedia leaves me wondering how I know I am getting something pure and not diluted with syrup as they say many “Manukah” jars are. Do you recommend a brand/maker? What should I look for on the labeling? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Tricia,
Look for the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association) mark on the jar; this mark acts as a total quality standard for consumers.
To carry the UMF brand, the manufacturer or owner of the brand must hold a current UMF license with UMFHA. In addition, genuine UMF Manuka Honey complies with all five of the following criteria:
– UMF is clearly stated on the front label.
– It is packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand.
– It is from a New Zealand company licensed by UMFHA to use the name UMF.
– It has the UMF licensee’s name on the front label.
– It has a rating of UMF 5+ or more.
Hope this helps! 🙂
What am I missing if I use regular honey instead of raw? Thanks for the great remedy and all your smoothie recipes, they are amazing!
Hi Lara,
Great question! Honey in its natural state has enzymes and nutrients in it that are destroyed by the heat (especially the high heat from pasteurization), while raw honey retains all of those nutrients to give the maximum health benefits. Pasteurization also plays a role in preventing crystallization and makes the final product very clear compared to the raw honey paste. There are still antioxidants in pasteurized honey, but in much smaller percentages. Some may decide to choose one over the other because of various factors, but whichever option someone chooses, honey will be a great natural sweetener.
Hope this helps!
It does thank you!
Once it’s in the fridge how long should you wait to use it? I know it suppose to be a jelly consistency, so should I just wait till then?
Hi Jhanna,
No need to wait! Once made enjoy a hot glass of our lemon, ginger, honey: all-natural remedy. We’re just giving you a heads up that the combination will thicken over time, no need to wait for your remedy to thicken before enjoying.
Cheers 🙂
How long does the mixture need to sit in the fridge before I use it?? If I did use pineapple, would it still last a few months?
Hi Mandi,
Check out our answer to your question below…
How long does this need to sit before I can use it??? If I did switch and use pineapple, would it still last a few months in the fridge?
Hi Mandi,
No need to wait! Once made enjoy a hot glass of our lemon, ginger, honey: all-natural remedy.
We haven’t made this recipe with pineapple, so we’re not 100% on how long it will last in your refrigerator, we suggest keeping an eye on the mixture to ensure it hasn’t passed it’s prime.
Curious about the honey. ..the pictures show very dark honey but my raw honey is quite light coloured. How do you get it pourable as I thought microwaving get rid of the nutrients.
Hi Julie,
The consistency + color of honey will vary greatly when in the raw, it’s all about your bees + location. My raw honey is pretty thick so I often try to stir it as much as possible before pouring it over the ginger + honey, sometimes scooping out portions with a spoon.
Find what works for you! 🙂
it could probably be the brand that the person in the image is using
over thirty years ago, I learned about the medicinal value of Cayenne pepper and using warm salt water to clear my . I would use a toothbrush to pepper my throat , not very easy, whenever I felt a sniffer or sore throat, I would do it. even though it worked for me for over thirty years, I will use this receipt from now. and maybe my family will do it lol. thanks a lot
Hi Magret,
Thanks for sharing your experience! We hope you enjoy our All-Natural Remedy and it keeps you feeling great throughout cold + flu season.
You can “tease” more juice out of your lemons by micro-waving 10 – 15 seconds before slicing!
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks for the tip! It also helps to roll your lemons on the counter with a little pressure before juicing.
Looks great. I will try this as well. I am curious about the ginger. Do I peel it or leave it as is?
Thanks,
Barb
Hi Barbara,
It’s your call! Out of habit I usually peel my ginger, but as you can see in the pictures above it’s not necessary.
Hope this helps! 🙂
This recipe is so awesome! I was just looking for a recipe like this this morning before I got your email!! Love it <3
I do a course grate on the ginger and have used pineapple in place of the lemon. There is just as much vitamin C in pinapple as in lemons. Crush the pineapple, grate the ginger, at this point you can also mix in your tumeric and some cayanne pepper. I set my honey container in a pan of hot tap water at the very beginning to gently warm it so it flows better. When done combining all the other ingredients I pour in the warmed honey and make sure all is mixed thoroughly together before placing in fridge. I also use a wide mouth Mason jar and flip it over a couple of times as it cools and jellies, to keep the ingredience suspended throughout.
Hi Tim,
Thank you so much for sharing. We love the idea of trying new sources of Vitamin C in our All-Natural Cold + Flu Remedy.
Perfect! Battling sore throat and a cold for a few days. Trying this today!
Hi Alexis,
Hope you’re feeling better soon! 🙂
Do you peel the ginger? The photos look as though you don’t.
Hi Mary,
It’s your call! Out of habit I usually peel my ginger, but as you can see in the pictures above it’s not necessary.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Do you peel the ginger?
Hi Mary,
It’s your call! Out of habit I usually peel my ginger, but as you can see in the pictures above it’s not necessary.
Hope this helps! 🙂
I just so happened to be at Trader Joes yesterday and picked up a bag of organic lemons and then came home to my box of Door to Door Organics with a bunch of ginger in it that I wasn’t sure what to do with. Looks like I’m making this over the weekend! 🙂
Perfect timing, Marie!
Thanks so much for sharing Will be making it this weekend
You’re so welcome, Terry! Cheers to a happy + healthy cold and flu season.
I don’t see a measurement amount for the honey? Are you supposed to just keep adding enough to fill up the entire jar?
Hi Miriam,
Yes, simply fill your container to the top with honey or until all of the lemon + ginger is fully submerged.
After getting a nasty cold last Easter, I found this remedy and started making it by the 1/2 gallon jar (2 at a time). Hubs and I love it. Since he works outside and it’s been chilly and windy here in Northeastern Iowa he drinks 20 oz each morning before work to keep colds at bay. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you so much for reaching out! We love hearing that you + your husband are staying healthy throughout cold and flu season with our Lemon, Ginger and Honey: All Natural Remedy.
Cheers 🙂