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This metabolism tea is a zesty, hydrating drink with a real bite from fresh ginger and cayenne. It comes from my 21-Day Cleanse, where I sip it between meals or right before I eat. Lemon and apple cider vinegar keep every sip tangy and bright, while raw honey mellows it all out.
On busy afternoons, I stir up a glass in five minutes and sip it while I get dinner started. Best of all, it’s caffeine-free, so you can enjoy it at any hour. It’s also one of my best weight loss drinks.
You might also like these warm drinks: Ginger Lemon Honey Tea and Spiced Golden Milk.
Table of Contents
What Is Metabolism Tea?
Metabolism tea is a bold, tangy drink made with fresh ginger, cayenne, lemon, apple cider vinegar and raw honey. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free and ready in five minutes in a single jar. Each glass is mostly water, so it feels light and refreshing.
Serve it warm in the morning, or pour it over ice on hot afternoons. As for the ginger, start with 1 tablespoon for a mellow sip, then work up to 2 for more heat. Grate it finely and press it into a tablespoon to measure.
Metabolism Tea Ingredients
Here’s a quick breakdown of why I use each ingredient in this recipe.
- Fresh ginger gives the tea its spicy, warm bite, and grating it finely helps it blend into every sip.
- Raw apple cider vinegar adds a sharp, tangy edge, and I reach for Bragg's apple cider vinegar.
- Fresh lemon juice adds bright citrus that keeps the tea refreshing, so squeeze it yourself.
- Raw honey softens the tang with gentle sweetness, so stir it into the warm water first.
- Ground cinnamon adds warm, sweet spice that rounds out the heat.
- Cayenne pepper builds a slow, lingering heat, so skip it if you’re sensitive to spice.
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How to Make Metabolism Tea
- Dissolve the honey. Stir the honey into a cup of warm water until it dissolves completely. Use warm water rather than boiling, so everything mixes easily.
- Add the lemon and vinegar. Next, pour in the lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, then give the jar a quick stir.
- Grate in the ginger. Then grate the fresh ginger straight into the mason jar and stir it in.
- Add the spices. Sprinkle in the ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
- Mix and taste. Whisk everything well, or screw on the lid and shake the jar. Finally, taste it and add a little more ginger if you want extra heat.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ginger: Use fresh ginger for the brightest, spiciest flavor.
- Less heat: Leave out the cayenne, or add just a small pinch instead of the full amount.
- Sweetener: Swap maple syrup for the honey, and the tea becomes vegan.
- Iced: Pour the finished tea over ice and add an extra squeeze of lemon.
Make-Ahead, Storage and Freezing
You can make a big batch of this tea ahead of time, and the freezer makes it easy. Mix everything except the water, then freeze it in 2-tablespoon cubes. Later, drop a few cubes into a mug of warm water and stir until they melt. Otherwise, mix a fresh glass whenever you want one, since the recipe makes a single serving.
Ginger Lemon Metabolism Tea
Jen HansardVideo
Ingredients
- 1 cup water warm
- 1 tablespoon raw honey raw
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar raw
- 2 tablespoon ginger root grated
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon ground
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a mason jar, stir the honey into the warm water until dissolved.
- Add the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne.
- Whisk well, or cover with a lid and shake to combine.
Recipe Notes
- Ginger Tip: Grate fresh ginger root on a fine grater for the brightest flavor. Strain it out before drinking if you prefer.
- Spice Level: Start with a small pinch of cayenne, or leave it out if you’re sensitive to heat.
- Vegan Swap: Honey isn’t vegan, so use maple syrup instead.
- Make Ahead: Mix everything except the water and keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Shake, then stir a spoonful into warm water.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Expect a tangy, lively sip with a warming, spicy finish from the ginger and cayenne. The honey smooths out the vinegar.
Sip it between meals when you want something zesty, or pour a glass right before you sit down to eat. Serve it warm on cool mornings, or pour it over ice when the afternoon heats up.
Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger, depending on how much heat you like. If you’re new to ginger, start with 1 tablespoon and work up from there.
Yes, freeze a batch made without the water in 2-tablespoon cubes. Then stir a few cubes into a mug of warm water whenever you want a cup.
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It’s really spicy….but I like it
You can always tone this one down with less cayenne if needed, Marleen!
I have been using this recipe for years whenever I get a cold. It is very soothing and warm. It always lessens the duration of the cold; I have never lost any weight though.
Is there a substitute to the apple cider vinegar? I do not enjoy hives…
I’d just leave it out!
So can I just use 1 cop of water or does it need to be warm? Also, as you were saying about if you should get hungry and you say dip on this do you drink the same amount that this makes each time
Hi Renee,
Yes. Use 1 cup of warmed water, in addition to the following ingredients:
1 tablespoon honey (raw )
2 tbsps lemon (juice)
2 tbsps apple cider vinegar (raw)
2 tbsps ginger root (grated)
dash of ground cinnamon
dash of cayenne pepper
You can totally drink the Metabolism Boosting Tea, according to the recipe, more than once a day, if you’d like. 🙂
I’ve consumed this tonic before and know it works. I start work at 5am and it’s a positive way to start my day as it’s way too early to eat breakfast but an excellent time for the tonic to kick start my day.
Is the frozen component just lemon juice??
Could you please specify which ingredients I freeze into cubes as I start very early.
I’m sure I add hot water, honey, cinnamon, cayenne at serving.
So, ACV ??? freeze or pour at serving,?????
Ginger can I substitute for ground or grate fresh into lemon juice and freeze.
My previous tonic similar to yours I simply pre juiced ample lemons and freezed into cubes and added all other ingredients in the morning but used ground ginger I purchase from a health shop.
Would this work?
Lisa
Hey Lisa – We recommend freezing all the ingredients together, minus the water.
If you have plenty of space in your freezer, you can add the following ingredients and quantities into individual mason jars and freeze them.
1 tablespoon honey (raw )
2 tbsps lemon (juice)
2 tbsps apple cider vinegar (raw)
2 tbsps ginger root (grated)
dash of ground cinnamon
dash of cayenne pepper
We recommend this method to save prep time for later. Each day, pull one out, add a cup of hot water, give it a shake to combine ingredients and you’re ready to go.
You are absolutely free to use ground ginger, if you choose. Hope this helps. 🙂
Do you have any alternative to this detox tea? My body doesn’t tolerate any kind of citrus, or ACV or other fruits high in acid.
Thanks!
Hi there Beth, we have a ton of great plant-powered beverages here. You can check out our7 Best Weight Loss Drinks and Healthy Caffeine Alternatives for some great ideas for healthy, energizing beverages.