How to Make Ginger Tea

A steaming cup of ginger tea is a deep comfort that never fails me. I started making the simple elixir years ago, after a friend made me a mug when I was feeling a little under the weather, and I’ve turned to it countless times ever since. While it’s a wonderful drink to sip on when you’re sick, you hardly need to be ill to appreciate it. Made with nothing but boiling water and fresh ginger, it’s a spicy, soothing beverage that’s best enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of honey — and your feet up on the couch.

The longer you boil fresh ginger in water, the spicier and more flavorful the tea will become. I recommend simmering the ginger and water mixture for 10 minutes for a tea that’s full-flavored and ginger-forward, but you can continue to simmer it even longer if you’d like an even spicer tea. If you’re simmering for longer, though, cover the pot so that the water doesn’t evaporate so much that you’re left without tea in the pot to enjoy.

Ginger aids in digestion, so I love sipping this tea after a big meal. It can also reduce nausea, congestion, and a sore throat, so it’s a nice natural treatment for general cold symptoms. Even without these benefits, ginger tea is a soothing drink that’s always a pleasure to sip.

At its simplest, ginger tea is just fresh ginger simmered in water. After straining the tea to remove the ginger pieces, it’s ready to be served. However, if you’d like to sweeten your tea, stirring in a spoonful of honey is encouraged — as is a squeeze of lemon to balance ginger’s spiciness.