Staying in calls for a hot cup of tea, so here is a quick recipe for a warm and healthy wellness tea that will also help keep your immune system strong. It has ingredients that are hopefully already in your pantry and takes just a few minutes to make at home.
I like this drink because:
-It is a hot drink – at this time it’s important to stick with room temperature, warm or hot drinks, and minimize cold or iced drinks. In Chinese medicine, warm foods are easier for your digestive system to process, allowing for more efficient nutrient absorption, which keeps your body and immunity strong.
-It can be made non-caffeinated – this can be a nice alternative to that cup of coffee in the afternoon, or you can drink it in the evening too. If you are sensitive to caffeine or have trouble sleeping, try stopping caffeine intake after 12:00 noon.
-It contains ginger and cayenne pepper for anti inflammatory and antiviral boost.
-It tastes great – I love the blend of spicy ginger and cayenne balanced with lemon and honey sweetness, all in a hot and cozy mug!
Ingredients
2 cups water
1 tea bag of choice (see below for tea suggestions)
1 teaspoon grated ginger or ground ginger
Juice from ½ lemon
1 teaspoon to ½ tablespoon raw honey (or to taste)
Pinch to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
Boil water until hot and steaming, then transfer water to a large mug and add tea bag to steep. Let tea steep according to package directions.
In a blender, add ginger, lemon, honey, and cayenne. After tea is steeped to your desired taste, remove the tea bag and add tea to the blender.
Remove the center piece (feeder cap) from the blender lid, place the blender lid securely on the blender, and put a clean kitchen towel over the lid. Blend briefly on low to medium speed (about 15-20 seconds). Take care to slowly vent and remove the lid to prevent splashing and to let the steam escape.
Pour your drink back into a mug and enjoy!
Notes
-You could use any tea you like, experiment and see what tastes good. My top choices would be herbal tea or rooibos tea since those don’t have caffeine, but feel free to use white or green tea, or whatever you have in your pantry at home.
-I really like ginger and don’t mind the spicy crunch from leaving the grated ginger in the drink, but if you prefer to not eat the ginger bits, feel free to strain the drink through a fine mesh strainer before serving.