This is my favorite tea recipe to use at the first sign of a tickle in the back of my throat or when I feel a little cough coming on. This isn't your typical "tea" recipe because it doesn't use any kind of leaves or tea bags. Rather, it uses fresh and simple ingredients that you can find from your local grocery store. This at-home remedy isn't just effective, it's budget friendly, too!
Lemon Ginger Cayenne Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
12 oz. hot water
1 inch of ginger, sliced or minced (or 1 drop ginger essential oil)
1-2 cloves of garlic, sliced or minced
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Juice from half a lemon
Spoonful of raw honey
Directions:
Bring water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, cayenne, and lemon juice to the water and let steep for at least 10 minutes. I like to toss in the rest of my lemon half into the pot to simmer as well after I juice it. Be sure to keep the temperature to a gentle simmer and don't let it get too hot. Stir every few minutes.
After the tea has steeped, take it off the heat and pour it through a strainer into a large mug or pitcher. Let it cool on the counter until it reaches a drinkable temperature. Add a large spoonful of raw honey to your tea and stir until fully dissolved. If you're using essential oils, you will add them during this final step as well. This mixture is spicy, so feel free to add a splash of nut milk or coffee creamer if desired, or dilute with additional hot water.
Tips:
It is recommended to drink this brew three to four times a day for as long as your symptoms last. I like to alternate drinking this recipe with my Ultimate Immune Support Tea when I'm feeling under the weather.
Personally, I will make this in larger batches and store the leftovers in mason jars in the refrigerator for a few days. You can also bless your tea before consuming it to enhance its healing abilities.
What are the benefits?
The ingredients in this tea have historically been used as medicinal remedies for the common cold, flu, and other viral and bacterial infections. Many studies have shown that these ingredients also help to increase healthy immune and respiratory function while boosting your cellular health! When ingested, these ingredients also support the body's natural detoxification processes and antioxidant defenses.
Each ingredient in this tea has a powerful effect on supporting your body. Ginger, a warming herb, helps increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and helps boost your immunity. It is especially helpful at soothing sore or irritated throats and relieving coughs. Similarly, garlic, is helpful in boosting immunity because of its strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. Basically, garlic is a potent antibiotic for your body which is why so many people eat spoonfuls of raw garlic when they're not feeling well.
Cayenne pepper is also known to help reduce inflammation and is good for coughs. Studies have found that cayenne may relieve cold symptoms such as sneezing, a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, and congestion. Fresh lemon juice gives your body extra vitamin C and potassium while alkalizing the body. Lemon also contains antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Raw Honey
The last ingredient in this tea is honey, which is known for its cold-fighting superpowers. Honey can also help to soothe a sore throat. When it comes to using raw honey for at-home remedies, I always prefer to use Manuka Honey. If you can't afford Manuka or you're in a pinch, you can substitute it with a raw, unpasteurized honey, preferably from a local farmer.
Please note that not all Manuka honeys are created equally. When using Manuka for medicinal purposes, you want to make sure that it contains plenty of the main antibacterial component called methylglyoxal (MGO). Most store-bought Manuka's have less than 30mg of MGO per kilogram of honey, which isn't going to help you very much.
You want to shop for a raw honey that contains a MGO rating of 30 or higher. Personally, I strive for 100+ MGO when I buy mine. Manuka Honey is not cheap, but I promise you, a high-quality Manuka is worth the investment. Here's two brands that I have personally used: Manukora and Comvita.
It's also important to note that Manuka can lose some of its medicinal properties if it's overheated. Therefore, you should wait for the tea to cool down a little before adding it to your drink.
Feeling under the weather?
Over the years, I've shared many of my recipes, remedies and at-home protocols to assist you when you're feeling down. Here's a few of my favorites (click to open):
With Love,
Kelsey
