Warming fresh ginger chamomile tea

This warming fresh ginger chamomile tea is the kind of tea you need without even knowing it. It is a as much a treat in the culinary sense as it is a treat for the soul. Whenever I’m stressed, tired or feel like I’m coming down with a cold, I turn to this tea for comfort. Made with chamomile flowers, fresh ginger, some honey and lemon it’s simple and soothing. Great warm and iced as well.

I’ll be completely honest, I’m a big coffee drinker. Always have been, for as long as I can remember. I cannot start my morning without it and it’s a constant companion during work hours and during the fun times as well. With that said, I have come into this habit of drinking tea regularly over the years. 

Growing up tea was reserved for sick days, but as an adult I really love it now. Because I get my caffeine kick elsewhere, I much prefer non-caffeine teas. And usually those are herbal teas. I have nothing against fruit teas, but herbal tea is my absolute favorite. 

With all the recipes out there, there is one concoction I come back to time and time again. It is this warming fresh ginger chamomile tea. To me this ginger tea is both a bandaid in times of emergency and a safety net that’s just part of my routine. I love how it’s calming but energizing at the same time.

So how exactly is lemon ginger chamomile tea made

Not counting the water needed, this very simple recipe uses only 4 ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand. This truly is an easy recipe. 

Fresh ginger

When I’m stressed I feel that stress in my stomach most of the time. Ginger calms down my stomach which is why I love it. I make my tea with fresh ginger, just a little peeled knob. If I can’t get it or don’t have it on hand, I reach for ginger tea bags. They do the trick just fine, but I much prefer fresh ginger. 

One thing that I always do is grate the ginger. I know some people chop it which is perfectly fine, but I find that grating the ginger really releases all its juices. And you want those for the tea. 

Dried chamomile flowers

I always keep dried chamomile flowers on hand. As well as classic chamomile tea bags. You can use either option, they both work. If you look at a chamomile tea bag closely you’ll see that that what’s hidden inside are just smashed or ground dried chamomile flowers.

I like chamomile tea because it’s so soothing. It offers just enough flavor without being obtrusive and it pairs wonderfully with ginger. 

Lemon 

Now fresh lemon juice is just a must in any tea. We can all benefit from that vitamin C. It also adds another layer of flavor to this warming fresh ginger chamomile tea. 

Honey

If you don’t have honey, you can use any other sweeteners you have on hand. I like honey not only for its natural sweetness but the overall flavor. For making tea, I reach for flower or blossom honey. This type of honey comes in that luscious golden color that we all love. It’s milder and sweeter in flavor compared to forest honey.

The latter is a bit less sweet, but just as good and delicious. It’s darker in color, more dark amber and often a bit thicker (at least from my try-outs)-With that said, whatever honey you have on hand, use it. It’s all great and perfect for tea.  

Now, if you’ve never had ginger tea before or you’re not a fan of ginger things, you might not be sold on this tea entirely. I get it, when I started drinking ginger tea I did it with caution too. 

Is ginger tea spicy? 

Short answer – yes. Ginger, generally, is spicy. But it’s not spicy in the same way that hot peppers are spicy. According to EIC, cooked ginger is the hottest of the gingers (compared to fresh and dried). But it is only about one thousandth as hot as capsaicin, the molecule which gives chilli peppers their heat. 

Okay that’s the technical part, but what can you expect? If you’ve never had ginger or are not used to it, you’ll feel the heat. But it subsides quickly. And the more often you make this tea, the more your tolerance will build. I use a generous chunk of fresh ginger, but you can most definitely use less in the beginning. Build up your tolerance slowly and you’ll be good. 

Another thing that helps with that ginger zing is honey! So just add an extra teaspoon or two to help with that. 

Ginger root tea vs powder vs tea bags 

Given the choice, I reach for fresh ginger, which is what I’m using in this recipe. I have no scientific base for this, but I just think that fresh ginger works best. However both ginger tea bags and ginger powder are great too. 

I find that every store has some ginger roots available at all times, so I usually pick 1-2 big ones and that’s plenty. Once you have your root, all you have to do is slice off a chunk, peel it and grate it with a zester. I keep the rest in my refrigerator. 

If using ginger powder, you want to dissolve it in boiling water first, before you add chamomile flowers. I would start with 1/2 teaspoon and do a taste test, then add more if needed.

With tea bags, you want to add chamomile to your boiling water first, then dunk in the tea bags. One thing to keep in mind is that store-bought ginger tea often comes mixed with other things. I have three different kinds of ginger tea bags at home right now and all three have some lemon added to them. And one even has turmeric in it. So just keep an eye on that.

The health benefits of ginger

Personally, I really feel that ginger helps me with my overall well-being. I like to drink it in the mornings, especially on stressful days because it soothes my stomach. In the evenings, I tend to add more chamomile flowers to the mix, to help me calm down and sleep. And sometimes on super indulgent days, it definitely helps me feel less stuffed and bloated after eating. 

With that said, I did dig through Healthline to give you a short list of all the benefits.

Ginger is anti-inflammatory 

Ginger is high in gingerol. That is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

These anti-inflammatory properties can also help reduce exercise induced soreness and muscle pain. Not immediately, but more on a long-term scale.

Ginger helps with nausea and morning sickness 

According to research, ginger may relieve nausea and help with an upset stomach. It can help with morning sickness and chemo-induced sickness. 

Ginger can help with indigestion 

It appears that ginger can speed up emptying of the stomach, which can be beneficial for people with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.

Ingredients

• 3 cups (700 ml) boiling water
• ginger root (one 1-inch (2-3 cm) piece, peeled and grated)
• 2 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers ((use 3 teabags if you can’t find dried flowers))
• fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 1 tablespoon honey (more to taste)

Instructions

• Pour boiling water in a heat-proof jar (or fill up a kettle that has a sieve). Add ginger and chamomile. Steep for 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in lemon juice and honey. Strain the tea, pour into a mug and enjoy. Add more honey if needed. Keep leftover tea in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. Warm up on the stove before drinking again or enjoy cold. 

Notes

• If you’re new to ginger, you can easily use less the first few times and build your tolerance to it. If you enjoy lighter teas, use more water than the recipe calls for. For more zing add more ginger. 
• You can use tea bags in place of chamomile flowers and fresh ginger. 

Calories per serving: 32 kcal Course: Drinks Cuisine: Slovenian Keyword: fresh ginger tea, quick