This post may contain affiliate links.
I’ve been making this detox tea recipe since 2014 and have no plans of stopping. I love how it makes me feel, and the robust fresh lemon and ginger flavors do grow on you! It’s warm, a little spicy and the easiest way I know to start a morning.
Ditch the store-bought detox tea bags and use fresh ingredients in this simple homemade recipe. 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.
Table of contents
Why I Love This Detox Tea
Aside from just feeling better overall, there’s a lot to love about making homemade detox tea. I’ve included this recipe in my 21-Day Cleanse as a warm morning ritual.
Here’s what keeps me drinking this each morning:
- Fresh lemon juice is high in vitamin C and brings a bright, tangy wake-up to the mug.
- Fresh ginger root brings warmth to the tummy, and it’s anti-inflammatory.
- Cayenne pepper adds a little heat that wakes you right up.
Save this Recipe
Enter your email & I’ll send it to you!
Homemade Detox Tea Ingredients
The following combination of plant-based ingredients makes a super delicious detox tea:
- Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice has a bright, clean flavor that bottled juice can’t match. Don’t cheat and use store-bought shelf-stable lemon juice (you’ll miss out on that fresh taste!)
- 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: Skip the boiling water. Warm water keeps the lemon and ginger tasting fresh and bright.
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 Detox Tea
My detox tea recipe is almost as easy as using a tea bag, and the fresh ingredients taste so much better. Here’s how to make it at home:
- Heat water, but remove from heat before it boils. Boiling water can dull the fresh flavor of 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 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
This detox tea is a simple, low-calorie way to start your morning. Here are a few quick tips to get the most out of it:
- Sip it once or twice a day, in between meals.
- If you have a sensitive stomach, feel free to have steel cut oats or something first.
- Use organic ingredients when you can.
- 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.
More Detox Recipes
Here are more fresh, homemade detox recipes you might enjoy. They’re all made with produce you can pick up at the grocery store, so they’re easy on your budget too.
Best Homemade Detox Tea
Jen HansardIngredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 inch ginger root thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juiced
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon 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.
Recipe Notes
- Use fresh ginger for the best flavor. Ground ginger works, but fresh tastes brighter.
- Cayenne adds heat. Leave it out if it’s too spicy for you.
- Skip the boiling water. Warm or room-temperature water keeps the lemon and ginger tasting fresh.
- Parsley is optional and adds a fresh, green note.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper make a warm, spicy tea that wakes up your taste buds. With no artificial sweeteners, you may find this detox tea a little strong at first. After a few days you’ll adjust, and you may even start to crave it.
Yes! Cut back on the cayenne and stir in a little raw honey, maple syrup or another natural sweetener.
Having a daily homemade detox tea is a healthy habit that goes a long way. Doing this alone will not transform your life (sorry!), but it’s a wonderful little ritual, and it takes a lot of healthy habits to feel amazing.
This detox tea is a warm, zesty morning ritual made with fresh lemon, ginger and cayenne. It’s a simple way to start your day with something nourishing and refreshing.
Starting each day with a detox tea is a great ritual to embrace if you’re making wellness a priority. A morning detox tea can set the tone for healthy habits throughout the day.
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.