Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1-2 teaspoons honey (adjust to taste)
- Optional: a dash of cayenne pepper (for extra warmth and kick)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Ginger:
- Peel a 1-inch piece of fresh ginger and slice it into thin rounds. This will infuse the tea with a lovely ginger flavor.
2. Boil Water:
- In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. You can also use a microwave-safe cup and heat the water in the microwave.
3. Infuse with Ginger:
- Once the water is boiling, add the sliced ginger to the boiling water. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. This will infuse the water with ginger’s aromatic flavor.
4. Squeeze Lemon Juice:
- While the ginger is infusing, juice one lemon to get fresh lemon juice.
5. Strain Ginger:
- After simmering, remove the ginger slices from the water. You can use a fine mesh strainer or simply pour the tea through a sieve into your cup to remove the ginger.
6. Add Lemon Juice:
- Stir in the fresh lemon juice into the ginger-infused water.
7. Sweeten with Honey:
- Add 1-2 teaspoons of honey to the tea, or adjust the amount to suit your taste. Honey adds sweetness and complements the tanginess of the lemon.
8. Optional: Add Cayenne Pepper:
- For a warming and slightly spicy kick, you can add a dash of cayenne pepper. It’s optional but can add a nice depth of flavor.
9. Stir Well:
- Stir the tea well to dissolve the honey and distribute the flavors evenly.
10. Serve:
- Pour the hot Lemon Ginger Tea into a cup.
11. Enjoy your homemade Hot Lemon Ginger Tea! It’s a comforting and immune-boosting beverage perfect for soothing a sore throat or just enjoying on a cold day. Sip slowly and savor the delightful combination of flavors.