Snow. Rain. Wind. Sleet. Whatever is beating on your window this winter you can keep the chill away with either of these teas. Both are winter elixers of heat and health. They’re simple concotions but hold an impressive list of benefits.
Ginger Tea
This golden liquid tastes like sweet sunshine. The ginger has just enough heat to add pizazz while the honey and lemon bring out ginger’s soothing properties.
Studies have shown that ginger is an effective aid in treating nausea, is a digestive aid, and some even find arthritic relief with ginger. Think of ginger as anti-anything-bad. Ginger extracts have shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects on cells. So if you’re under the weather or just want to be nice to yourself ginger tea is your drink. And it’s ridiculously easy to make so you have no excuses.
2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger; 5 cups of filtered water (okay, this is the duh-factor here. Any water will work but the cleaner the better); 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemons (you want fresh if you’re going for health benefits); honey to taste.
Simmer the ginger in the water for 20 minutes. Strain the ginger out. Add the lemon juice and honey to taste. Et voila: 5 cups of the best ginger tea ever.
Cayenne Detox Tea
Buried in cayenne’s gorgeous red hues is a wall of heat. But when paired with honey and lemon the taste becomes its own. Trust me on this one, it’s delicious albeit unusual. If you have a cold, you need to drink this. I know what you’re thinking, my throat is on fire so why would I want to pour a flaming heat spice on its tender, miserable surface? I’ll let you take full responsibility on your final decision but all I can say is that strangely enough, it works. Cayenne’s heat actually soothes sore throats. It relieves stuffy noses and headaches. It feels perfect.
I did a little research to find out why. Here’s the scoop: all chile peppers (including cayenne) contain a substance called capsaicin. The more capsaicin the hotter the chili. This substance has very real health benefits. It’s an inhibitor of something called Substance P, which triggers the inflammatory process. The simple explanation works something like this: capsaicin inhibits Substance P from causing inflammation…at least it slows it down. That means people who suffer from inflammation pain (like arthritis or a sore throat) will find relief with capsaicin.
Chile peppers also give your immunity system a boost with their concentrated levels of beta-carotene and Vitamin A. And they protect the fats in your blood from free-radicals. Could you ask more from a humble but beautiful spice?
This is even easier to make than the ginger tea.
A mug of filtered hot water; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (or more depending on your tastes), 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon.
Add your ingredients to the hot water and stir. Keep your spoon to mix the ingredients occasionally while you drink your tea. The amounts above are a guideline. Add more or less to your own personal tastes…except the cayenne. Yes, you need to be prepared for some heat but that’s kind of the the point of this detoxifying drink.
A votre sante!
February 6, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Two of my favorite teas! The cayenne tea really surprised me the first time I tried it. It sounds strange, but it tastes really good. Thanks for reminding me of these, I’ll be making them again soon.
February 8, 2010 at 7:23 am
Glad you rediscovered them. Yes, the cayenne is a suprise–it’s an entirely unique combination that just works. It’s also quite effective to all its claims. I decided to do this post because I was feeling under the weather. Drank about 4 cups of these teas then woke up the next day feeling great. Skiied all weekend, in fact.
February 9, 2010 at 8:55 am
I love fresh ginger and often make a ginger based tea but cayenne tea is totally new to me. It’s so different, I have to try it!
February 9, 2010 at 9:13 am
It’s very different. I’d love to know what you think after you do! It’s something you’ll want to be “in the mood” to try.
February 10, 2010 at 8:19 pm
In the Philippines, we call ginger tea “Salabat”. We also have an alcoholic beverage that consists of gin, ginger ale or tea, and green tea extract. Some find it weird, but I find it refreshing. :))
The cayenne tea is interesting. i would like to try that one…
February 10, 2010 at 11:33 pm
That drink sounds delicious! Especially for the warmer weather. I’ll have to remember it. Thank you.
February 18, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Cayenne tea wow- I bet it’s awesome, How interesting!!
November 6, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I like ginger syrup in almost any tea…. I wonder if I can grow my own ginger – ??
November 6, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I think you can grow anything anywhere…just depends how much effort you’re willing to put into creating an environment where the plant would be happy. I noticed that ginger grew abundantly in Dominica. It’s a gorgeous ornamental. Zinger zingeberra…I think. Going from total memory here!