Two Ginger Teas Everybody Needs
People use duct tape for everything. Bumper hanging off your car? Stubborn wort? Hole in your tent? Duct Tape. However, I have found that there are a few situations in which duct tape is no help, and those situations are when you need ginger.
Everything from pork marinades to sinus infection remedies to fancy cocktails- ginger is a vital player in my kitchen. Always fresh, sometimes from niche curated markets and other times from the international supermarket in our town. In all my ginger explorations, I have discovered two teas that warm body and soul, teas that every person needs to try.
The first tea is my go-to when I am under the weather. For years, I have had a horrid propensity towards sinus infections. I cannot tell you the number of times I have battled my symptoms with this tea- and boy is it a delicious battle.
Ingredients:
4 cups of water
2 inches of ginger root
1 lemon
2 tablespoons of raw honey
Start by peeling your ginger root with a spoon. If you have never tried this, get ready, your life is on the up and up!! Face the smooth, rounded side of the spoon AWAY from the ginger and gently rub up and down. Watch as the skin slides off like wrapping paper on a Christmas present.
Once the ginger is fairly naked, slice it into ¼ inch or thinner slices. Place slices in water and bring to a boil. Let it boil. Replace water that has boiled out. Keep boiling. Call your mom and ask her how she’s doing. Clean a few dishes. Add a bit more water, boil a bit more and VOILA. Your ginger water should have a noticeable yellow/brown coloring. Take a taste, if it doesn’t strongly taste of ginger then keep boiling!
I usually put my ginger on to boil when I get home, after 25-30 minutes of boiling it typically has a strong taste and color. This does take a while, but usually produces enough base for me to use for a couple days. Now pour some of that delicious golden goodness into a cup. Squeeze a quarter of the lemon and sweeten to taste with RAW honey.
Is it a bit strong? An acquired taste? Perhaps, but I have yet to meet anyone that gets to the end of a mug without feeling revitalized and fortified.
Now my next go-to tea is a speedy and creamy concoction. My sister and I have been playing with this recipe for a while, we’ve tried boiling ginger cubes, grating straight into the cup, etc. This recipe has finally evolved into the most straight forward, efficient, and delicious possible version.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of almond butter
half inch by one inch piece of ginger root
2(ish) tablespoons of RAW honey
boiling water
a blender safe for very hot water (we always use our Vitamix)
Again, shock onlookers with your brilliant ginger peeling skills. Cut ginger into ¼ inch slices. Place ginger, almond butter, honey, and water into blender. (Be very careful and make sure you are familiar with appropriate methods of blending hot water in your blender.) Usually, I start blending on low and slowly increase to nearly high. Blend until the mixture has a smooth and creamy look. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy. This tea will change your life.
These are only two of the ginger recipes I cling to, but gosh they are easy game changers and OH so good for your body. Be careful who you make these for, or you may end up with frequent drink orders.
Writing and recipe by : Sarah Grace Lewis
Photography by: Abby Keeler