Crystal Nelson
Ginger tea gives the body a pleasant warmth in the cold season and is a versatile remedy. Here you can find out how you can quickly and easily prepare ginger tea from fresh ginger yourself – and what you need to bear in mind.
Fresh ginger tea tastes delicious and is the ideal drink for cool autumn and winter days. Anyone who freezes quickly should definitely try hot ginger tea: the exotic tuber really heats up. Ginger tea is also a popular home remedy for colds, nausea, digestive problems and menstrual cramps. The tea is extremely flavorful and tastes fruity and spicy with a light pepper note. You can easily make your own tea from fresh ginger.
Make ginger tea yourself – the ingredients
For a pot of homemade ginger tea you need:
- fresh ginger (calculate about a walnut-sized piece per cup)
- boiling water
- according to taste fresh herbs, lemon juice or honey for sweetening
Recipe: Boil ginger tea
- Wash the ginger root.
- Thinly slice or grate the ginger.
- Then pour boiling water over the ginger and let it steep for at least ten minutes. The longer it steeps, the hotter the tea becomes.
- Strain through a sieve.
- You can refine your ginger tea as you wish. Fresh mint, lemon balm, thyme, lemon juice or honey are suitable for this.
Tips for making ginger tea yourself
It is best to use organic ginger. Especially if you use the peel, the tuber should be pesticide-free.
You can recognize fresh ginger by its smooth and firm skin.
Always cut fresh ginger.
Do not peel the ginger root – there are many valuable ingredients in the peel.
Alternatively, you can use ginger powder, but it contains fewer essential oils.
Avoid common mistakes with ginger tea
Do not cut the ginger too early, always just before it boils. Otherwise valuable ingredients of the tuber could be lost.
Pay attention to the water temperature: You should prepare ginger tea with boiling water, the water should not be colder.
What is ginger water?
Ginger water is the refreshing cold alternative to the warming hot ginger tea. For ginger water, you can either let the hot tea cool down or you can steep it cold. It tastes wonderful – especially on hot summer days with clinking ice cubes and a slice of lemon!
The miracle root ginger is so healthy
Ginger contains many vitamins, as well as magnesium, iron, calcium and potassium. However, it is the pungent substances and essential oils such as gingerol, chocolate oil or borneol that make the tuber so valuable for our health.
“The root, which is so inconspicuous from the outside, also hides a wide range of medicinally active ingredients inside and is therefore a popular remedy in naturopathy,” explains Dr. Roman Huber, head of the university center for naturopathy opposite the university clinic in Freiburg.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ginger has played an important role for centuries and is considered a remedy for colds, pain, nausea and migraines. In 2018, the hot tuber was named medicinal plant of the year.
Ginger can help with numerous health problems:
- strengthens the immune system and helps with cold symptoms
- helps with nausea (also travel sickness) and digestive problems
- has an anti-inflammatory effect
- relieves menstrual cramps
- is a general pain reliever
- can help with migraines
