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I’ve been making the best cleansing detox tea recipe since 2014 and have no plans in stopping. I love how it makes me feel—and the robust fresh lemon and ginger flavors do grow on you! Plus, this cleansing tea is a great way to activate your digestive system and support your body’s ability to flush out toxins.
Ditch the store-bought detox tea bags and use fresh ingredients in this simple homemade recipe to gently support your body’s detoxification process. If you wanna double up, enjoy this first thing in the morning followed by my classic Detox Smoothie or try my Detox Island Green Smoothie.
Health Benefits of Detox Tea
Aside from just feeling better overall, there are some great health benefits to making homemade detox tea. I’ve included this recipe in my 21-Day Plant-Based Cleanse to support the detoxification process and support weight loss goals.
Here are the top benefits that motivate me to keep drinking this each morning:
- Fresh-squeezed lemon juice promotes alkalinity in the body and also kick-starts the liver for the day encouraging the release of digestive fluids. Lemon juice is also a powerful antioxidant because it contains citrates, flavonoids, vitamin E, vitamin C.
- Fresh ginger root brings warmth to the tummy while boosting both the metabolism and circulatory system.
- Capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper, has been shown to help with liver repair, especially from alcohol damage.
Homemade Detox Tea Ingredients
The following combination of plant-based ingredients makes a super delicious and beneficial tea:
- Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice contain a soluble fiber called pectin. It promotes the production of digestive enzymes in the liver, helping eliminate waste from your body. Don’t cheat and use store-bought shelf stable lemon juice (you’ll miss out on this goodness!)
- Ginger root: Fresh ginger root is robust in flavor and found in the produce section.
- Cayenne pepper: A small dash of this powerful seasoning brings some heat.
- Warm water: Never use boiling. This can kill any of the live enzymes in the fresh lemon juice, which helps with digestion.
How to Sweeten dETOX TEA
If you’re having a hard time drinking the detox tea, try decreasing the cayenne pepper and adding a little bit of raw honey, maple syrup or another natural sweetener. This helps balance out the acidity and makes it slightly more pleasant if sour and spicy aren’t your thing.
How to Make the Best Detox Tea
My cleansing tea recipe is almost as easy as using a tea bag, yet has additional health benefits thanks to the fresh ingredients. Here’s how to make it at home:
- Heat water, but remove from heat before it boils. Boiled water will start to break down the nutrients from the lemon juice and ginger root, which we don’t want!
- Slice ginger root and squeeze lemon juice into a mug. Add a dash of cayenne, as well. I like adding these before the water so that they start at the bottom of the mug.
- Pour warm water into a mug and allow to steep for 5 minutes. This gives the ginger time to release into the water. You can even gently press down on the soaking ginger with a spoon to help release the juices.
- Sip and enjoy the warming experience.
Homemade Detox Tea Cubes
Save time by making a batch of detox tea concentrate ahead of time by freezing ingredients (except the water) in an ice cube tray. When ready to enjoy, add a frozen cube to a cup of hot water.
Detox Tea Tips for Weight Loss
This detox tea recipe can be a wonderful weight-loss beverage. It contains ingredients that can induce feelings of fullness and suppress hunger. Here are a few quick tips to help you get the most benefits from this homemade weight loss tea… if weight loss is a goal.
- Consume 2-3 times a day (in between meals) for the best results.
- Drink on an empty stomach to activate the digestion system the best. If you have a sensitive stomach or struggle with acid reflux, feel free to have oatmeal or something first.
- Use organic ingredients to aid in the cleansing process.
- Blend ingredients together to retain as much fiber as possible.
- Munch on the ginger root once the tea is finished— I love the burst of flavor.
- If you have sensitive teeth, allow the tea to cool off a bit and sip through a straw.
Common Questions
The combination of lemon, ginger, and cayenne pepper creates a warm and spicy beverage that truly wakes up the body. Void of any artificial sweeteners, you may find this detox tea bitter at first. Yet after a few days, you will adjust to the flavors and begin to crave them for the taste and detox tea benefits you’ll quickly experience.
When trying to lose weight, use a tea blend that can curb hunger and activate the digestive system. Fresh lemon juice, ginger root, and cayenne pepper all work together in my detox tea recipe to promote weight loss gently and naturally.
Having a daily homemade detox tea as a healthy habit that goes a long way. Doing this alone will not transform your life (sorry!) but it is a wonderful habit that nourishes and heals your body. It takes a lot of healthy habits to lose weight, gain energy, and feel amazing. Drinking the best detox tea every day can definitely be a vital part of your transformation journey.
Detox tea is a natural cleanse recipe that helps cleanse the body by supporting the liver and kidneys in flushing out toxins, improving digestion, boosting metabolism, and potentially aiding in weight loss.
Starting each day with a detox tea is a great ritual to embrace if you’re making wellness a priority. Aside from the health benefits, a morning detox tea can trigger a pattern of healthy habits throughout the day.
More Detox Recipes
Here’s some more recipes to support the detox process that you might enjoy. They’re all made with fresh produce at home, giving you the best results, and also making it affordable to do long-term.
Best Homemade Detox Tea
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 inch ginger root thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp lemon juiced
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley optional
Instructions
- Heat water just below boiling.
- Add sliced ginger and lemon juice to a mug.
- Pour hot water into mug and allow to steep for 5 minutes.
- Add a dash of cayenne.
Notes
- Use fresh ginger for best results. Ground ginger will taste good, yet won’t give your body the benefits that fresh ginger root does.
- Cayenne pepper will help with the cleansing process. I know it’s a strong ingredient— it can be omitted if you aren’t able to tolerate them.
- You want to make sure your water isn’t boiling because this will start to kill off the medicinal properties of the lemon and ginger root. Warm water is just fine, or even room temp if that’s easier for you.
- Adding parsley is a powerful natural diuretic and can help reduce bloating.
Can I make a big batch on Sunday to have one cup each day Monday-Friday?
Hi Steph! I suggest using the Detox Tea Cubes idea on the blog. You’ll make a detox tea concentrate ahead of time by freezing ingredients (except the water) in an ice cube tray. When ready to enjoy, add a frozen cube to a cup of hot water.
Hello Jen, I was wondering if your Detox Tea would be ok to drink if you have Crohn’s Disease? Coffee, which I love, puts me in the bathroom much of the day so, I have given it up. I want to detox my body whenever possible so, this sounds promising, possibly.
Thank you!
Robie
This tea has been of great benefit to me.
I’ll admit i wasn’t sure about this recipe while making it, but when I took the first sip it was surprisingly and delightfully good. The lemon and ginger both compliment each other very well. I will definitely keep making this recipe a part of my diet. 🙂
Can’t start my day without this now! Love this!
Rawk on, Kavli!
This is such a soothing way to start my morning. I love the ice cube tray idea, and use it to make my cubes ahead of time. Thanks!
Perfectly portioned and super easy for the morning. Way to rawk it Erin!
The ice cube tray idea is wonderful! Making my second batch today!
Rawk on! Here’s to your health, Cyndy! 🙂
I was hesitant, but it’s actually good. I like the addition of the cayenne.
Love that you tried something new Cyndy!! Rawk on!
Love the ice cube tray idea! Gonna have to try that.
Making a bunch ahead of time in an ice cube try is def a game changer!!
I love this tonic. It’s a great way to start my day!
I agree, Kim!
I have this recipe every morning!!
This tonic is a great way to start the day!