Lemon, Ginger and Honey Tea

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When knocked sideways by flu or cold, this is just the tonic.

LEMON, GINGER & HONEY TEA

Joanne Iceton
Just the thing to pep you up over winter
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 1 person

Equipment

  • Knife
  • chopping board or use a plate
  • Kettle or you can boil water in a pan or microwave
  • Measuring Spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 cm fresh ginger or use 1/2 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp honey using raw honey gives some additional benefits
  • 20 ml boiling water

Optional

  • 25 ml whisky or rum

Instructions
 

  • Slice the ginger (if using fresh) and half of the lemon. Add to a large mug or heatproof glass along with the honey.
  • Barely cover the ingredients in the mug with boiling water and leave to steep for 10 mins.
  • Juice the remaining half of the lemon then add this to the mug, along with the whisky or rum if using.
  • Top up with boiling water, stir and serve.

Notes

This ‘tea’ is just the thing to soothe a nasty bout of cold or flu and is much better than the tea bags you can buy because it uses fresh ingredients (well the ginger was frozen as I obtained this in bulk and loathe to waste any food).
*You may use any honey but the raw type found in local farm shops (or the rather expensive manuka honey) has so much more beneficial properties as these are destroyed in the refining process.
The whisky (or rum) is truly optional and I can’t say it will offer any health benefits apart from numbing any aches or pains if you drink a few but this was my lovely Nana Eva’s ’tonic’ of choice when she came down with cold so it has gone in!
This can be given to children (adding some cold water to cool it slightly and minus the whisky of course) but avoid giving it to babies under the age of one as honey may contain spores which their immature digestive systems are unable cope with and possibly lead to infant botulism . This is very rare but certainly not worth the risk.
 

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Nutritional Information
Fresh ginger contains a higher level of compounds (terpenes and gingerols) than dried which have anti-inflammatory action and has been shown to improve pain and swelling in up to 75% of people with arthritis. The antioxidant content have anti-cancer properties and consumption helps to calm nausea as well easing digestion.

Lemons are high in the antioxidant vitamin C which may help prevent certain cancers as well as enhancing the absorption of iron in food and helping to boost immunity.

Raw honey is one of nature’s oldest known antibacterial products which were frequently used in wars to prevent infection. Its antioxidant content helps to protect our cells and boost immunity. Not only is it antibacterial but also anti-inflammatory and         anti-fungal. Increasing scientific evidence shows that a single dose of honey can reduce mucus secretion and coughs. In one study*, honey was just as effective as diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan, common ingredients found in over-the counter cough medicines.
(*source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419319)