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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.
This stuff is amazing. Seriously. I had been sick (varying degrees of “I don’t feel good” to “I might die”) for going on 4 weeks. I made this, started taking it twice/day and started feeling significantly better after 1 day. No lie. We now keep a jar of it in the fridge at all times and have a (in my husband’s words) “cup of immunity” every night. Haven’t been sick since.
Hi Nancie,
We love hearing that, and especially love hearing that you’re feeling great! Cheers to health + happiness! 🙂
How long does this last in the fridge? I blasted through my first batch shortly after I made it. So I made a second batch but it has been sitting for weeks. Is it still OK?
Hi Missy,
Great question! Our All-Natural Cold + Flu Remedy will keep in your fridge for up to two months!
Cheers 🙂
Hi
How long does the lemon, ginger and honey has to be in the jar before I could use some of it. 1, 2, 3 days or more.
Murielle
Hi Murielle,
No need to wait! I know I can’t when I make this recipe! Once assembled, enjoy!
Cheers 🙂
The raw honey that I buy is not very liquid. More of a solid.
Should I heat it first, or buy liquid honey for this?
Hi Arlene,
Finding your honey pretty thick? Simply use the blade of a kitchen knife to move the lemon and ginger around and make room for it.
Hope this helps!
My husband has the flu, made his first smoothie with a variation of these ingredients and he loved it. 2 cups spinach, 2 cups water, 1″ ginger, 1/2 lemon 1 orange and 2 tbsp honey.
Hi Lauren,
Oh no! Sending him plenty of healing vibes!
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! One more thing;is it important to fill the jar to the very top for the start? I’m pretty sure my jar is too big for the honey I bought. wondering if I should give it a go as it is or go out and by some more! Love, love,love the pre-work out smoothie by the way:)
Hi Yas,
Great question! No need to fill the jar to the very top. Simply ensure that your honey reaches the top of your ingredients to start and then you’re all set!
Cheers 🙂
Love this recipe. I made two batches one for my family and one for my mom. I have had a cup every night for the last few nights. Its very calming. My kids who are 4 and 8 beg me for their own cups!! I think I will have to make this once a week. Thanks so much!! Going to buy the 5 pound jar of raw honey from the farm next week. I also told our dietician at work about it.
Hi Kim,
I agree this recipe is so relaxing! This is my go-to evening drink, along with our Spiced Almond Milk during cold winter nights.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/weight-loss-drinks
Cheers to health + happiness in the New Year!
ok so a quick online search tells me that raw honey is not heated at high temperatures. does that mean supermarket brands are out of the question? its never mentions heat treatment.
Raw honey can usually be substituted with unpasteurized honey. It’s hard to find in the grocery store. I buy my unpasteurized honey at our local health food store, or sometimes I get it from the Bulk Barn, but it’s not as liquid.
Hi Yas,
If you can’t find raw honey in your grocery aisle, a speciality or health food store is the way to go! You can use other types of honey from your grocery aisle, just be aware that the nutrients will be limited if the honey has been exposed to high levels of heat during processing, but will still provide comfort + relief to your throat when sick as honey creates a great natural coating!
Hope this helps!
Is raw honey a specific kind of honey? We get tons of honey here in UAE and the most basic is floral (mild enough for children). Can I use that?
Hi Yas,
Thanks for reaching out! Raw honey is honey that is pure, unheated, unpasteurized and unprocessed. This is perhaps one of the most important characteristics and health benefits of the final product, as it preserves all the natural vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrients and other nutritional elements.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Oke guys, This recipe looks fantastic! I’m going to give this a try this evening. Wish me luck 🙂
Hi Fenna,
Yay! I’m actually enjoying a glass right now. Reach back out + let us know what you think!
Cheers 🙂
My husband always has this cough problem and also flu issues. But thank God I have a strong immune system thanks to Simple Green Smoothies making me realize how good fruits and veggies are. And this will really help out making it morrow as soon as I get lemons. And it looks yummy.
Hi Imma,
YAY! We love hearing how your immune system is a flu + cold fighting machine thanks to green smoothies! We hope our All Natural Remedy will keep your husband feeling great all winter long!
Cheers 🙂
How long will it last?
Hi Sonya,
Great question! I usually keep my mixture for about two months, and then make a new batch.
This is fantastic! I take a tablespoon or two daily. Do you have any similar recipes using ACV?
Hi Dr. Matt,
YAY! We’re so happy to hear you love for our Lemon, Ginger, and Honey: All Natural Remedy. While we don’t have a Apple Cider Vinegar recipe at this time, we love that idea and will definitely have to look into it!
Cheers 🙂
How much honey should we use?
Hi Janine,
Great question! Fill your 12oz mason jar with honey until all of your ingredients are fully submerged!
For the past 21/2 monthes Ive been sick with a cought Ive try everything gone with 2 diffrent doctors so I will def. Try this heard its really good hope it works.
Sending you plenty of healing vibes + warm hugs, Josie! Hope you feel better! <3
Thanks for this honey, lemon, ginger recipe…I made this thinking I would prepare for future use. Little did I know that the flu would be going thru the nursing home where I work. I have been drinking this as a preventive…so far so good! Monday thru Wednesday…no sign of the flu! May use this daily…as it taste great too! I also use this with my regular raspberry tea mix…an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Hi Kelli,
Thanks for reaching out! Sending you plenty of healthy vibes and hope that the flu stays far away!