- 1
Select a fresh piece of ginger about an inch long. Fresh ginger is indispensable when you want to have a rich, aromatic tea with the best flavour.
- 2
Ginger is fibrous, so one has problems peeling it. This task is done by scraping off the thin skin using the edge of a spoon; chances are that the shovel would retain more of the ginger than its blade.
- 3
Grate the ginger using a fine grater or grate on a microplane. This will ensure that it boils and all flavours are boiled out.
- 4
In another small saucepan, add 2 cups (500 ml) of water. Add grated ginger to the water without any transition.
- 5
More intense flavouring is provided by freshly grated ginger rather than sliced ginger since the small pieces allow more of the ginger's essential oils into the water.
- 6
Stir the mixture over medium heat and let it come to a boil. When the water starts boiling, the flavour of the ginger will infuse its spicy and aromatic essence into the water, hence imbuing the tea with its characteristic warmth and slightly savoury flavour.
- 7
Once that water is brought to a rolling boil, remove the heat and let it simmer on low. Let the ginger-flavoured water simmer gently for 5-10 minutes, depending on how strong you need your ginger flavour.
- 8
For a milder flavour of tea, you can let it simmer for around 5 minutes. For stronger and spicier brew, you can go up to 10 minutes.
- 9
The simmering will allow the ginger flavour to bleed slowly into the tea, making it richer and fragrant.
- 10
Once you have simmered, your tea should be pale gold in colour and aromatic in scent.
- 11
Switch off the heat and remove the saucepan from the stove. Separate the ginger pieces from the tea by straining the liquid into cups using a fine-mesh sieve.
- 12
You don't need the grated ginger anymore because all its flavours would have been soaked into the liquid.
- 13
You should now have the cups full of clear, ginger-infused water ready to be sweetened and served.
- 14
For flavour and natural sweetness, stir one teaspoon (5 ml) of honey into each cup of ginger tea.
- 15
Honey balances the sharp pungency and spiciness of ginger if you are using the tea to relieve a sore throat or cold. Add one teaspoon or 5 ml of lemon juice to each cup, which gives the tangiest of zests.
- 16
The lemon flavour gives citrus freshness with the warmly comforting flavour of ginger, thus freshening and brightening the tea.
- 17
Mix in the honey and lemon well into the tea so they are fully absorbed.
- 18
Your ginger tea is now ready to be consumed! Serve this hot and sip slowly to enjoy the soothing warmth and health benefits that Ginger Tea offers for improving digestion and relieving nausea and cold symptoms.
- 19
It's not only a healthy tea, but it is also a natural remedy to boost immunity and soothe the body to relax.