Ginger Tea
Wellness can be as simple as a warming cup of ginger tea. Ginger is a common kitchen staple and has been used since ancient times for colds, fevers and digestive conditions. It’s packed with antioxidants and is an excellent immune booster.
Ingredients:
serves 3-4
5 cm (2 inch) piece ginger root, peeled
1 L (4 cups) filtered water
1 lemon wedge
Optional:
2 tsp raw honey
Method:
Boil water in a rice cooker or pot.
Slice the ginger lengthwise and using the base of your knife, gently smash the ginger to release the volatile oils.
Add ginger to the boiling water.
Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
Strain the ginger and compost.
Optional: Add a bit of honey (starting with 1 tsp) if sweetness is desired. Stir with a spoon and serve hot with a squeeze of lemon or let cool and serve chilled with ice.
GINGER TEA VARIATIONS
For something different, try these combinations using the above recipe as a base.
Ginger-apple-cinnamon
Benefit: cinnamon is great for balancing blood sugar.
Direction: add 1, 2.5 cm / 1 inch piece of cinnamon bark during cooking.
Ginger-mint
Benefit: Mint is helpful to aid in relaxation – and also adds a fresh element to your grounding tea.
Direction: add a fresh sprig of peppermint or spearmint leaves to hot tea, cover and steep for a few minutes.
Ginger-fennel seed-turmeric-black pepper
Benefit: fennel seed is a great for digestive support and complements ginger; turmeric is anti-inflammatory powerhouse and combined with black pepper, it’s bioavailability in the body are increased by up to 2000%!
Direction: add ½ tsp fennel seeds, 1, 1 cm / ½ inch piece turmeric root and pinch of black pepper during cooking. If turmeric root is not available, use ½ tsp powder (add this last to your cup after your tea is finished; add honey and lemon and stir before serving).
