Recipes · Tonic
Ginger, Lemon and Honey Tea
Reader ratingsFresh ginger simmered into a fragrant tea and finished with lemon and a spoonful of honey. The classic warm mug for scratchy-throat evenings and queasy mornings.
A household remedy for chills, queasy stomachs and sore throats across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Safety
- Never give honey to babies under 12 months, because of the risk of infant botulism.
- Ginger in food amounts is safe for most people, but very large amounts can cause heartburn or an upset stomach. If you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder or are scheduled for surgery, ask your clinician. In pregnancy, keep to modest amounts: a review of pregnancy-nausea trials found the best results at under about 1.5 g of ginger a day.
- Lemon juice is acidic. Rinse your mouth with water afterward to protect tooth enamel, and see a clinician for a sore throat with a high fever or trouble swallowing, or one that lasts more than a few days.
Why it’s good for you
Ginger is among the best-studied culinary roots for nausea, and a warm, honeyed lemon drink is soothing to sip when your throat is scratchy.
Evidence
Moderate evidence
Some human trials or consistent observational data; not yet settled.
Honey has the most research behind it: a Cochrane review of six trials in 899 children found it probably eases cough better than no treatment or placebo, and a 2021 meta-analysis of 14 studies found it beat usual care for cold symptoms, although a 2022 trial in 161 toddlers found it no better than a honey-flavored placebo. Ginger eased nausea in a meta-analysis of 12 pregnancy trials, though the evidence quality was low. The tea itself is untested, but a small trial found a hot drink relieved more cold symptoms than the same drink at room temperature.
General information from research and traditional use — not medical advice, and not a treatment for any condition. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, check with your clinician first, and seek care for symptoms that are severe or do not improve.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring the water and ginger slices to a boil in a small saucepan, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Simmer up to 25 minutes for a spicier tea.
- Strain into mugs or a teapot, and let it cool for a minute or two so it is hot but drinkable.
- Stir in the lemon juice, honey and cayenne, if using. Add the honey and lemon at the end: boiling-hot water dulls both flavors.
Tips
- For a ready-to-go concentrate, simmer 3 oz of sliced ginger in 4 cups of water for 20 minutes, strain, and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Stir 1/2 cup into a mug of hot water, then add lemon and honey.
- Grate the ginger instead of slicing it for a hotter tea, and add a cinnamon stick for natural sweetness.
- Drink it hot. In a small trial, a hot drink relieved more cold symptoms than the same drink at room temperature.
Reader ratings & reviews
– out of 5
Loading ratings…
Rating breakdown
- 5 stars 0
- 4 stars 0
- 3 stars 0
- 2 stars 0
- 1 star 0
Made this? Please rate it.
Check your email
We sent a sign-in link to . Click it and you’ll come straight back here, signed in. It expires in 15 minutes; check your spam folder if it doesn’t show up. Thank you for helping the community!
Your review
Reviews are personal experiences. Every review is read by our team before it appears.
More tonics, teas & broths
Elderberry Syrup
A dark, tangy-sweet syrup simmered from dried black elderberries, ginger and warm spices, then sweetened with honey. A cold-season pantry staple.
Moderate evidence
Fire Cider
A fiery four-week infusion of raw apple cider vinegar with horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion and chili, softened with honey and taken by the spoonful.
Traditional use
Thyme Honey Cough Syrup
Fresh thyme steeped into a fragrant infusion and stirred into honey with a little lemon: an old-fashioned spoonful for a tickly evening cough.
Moderate evidence
Slippery Elm Throat Drink
A silky, lightly sweet drink of slippery elm bark powder whisked into warm water with honey and cinnamon. A traditional soothing coat for a dry, scratchy throat.
Limited evidence
Have a recipe of your own? Share it with us. We read every one before it goes on the site.