Winter Wellness Tea Recipe

Today I’m going to be sharing one of my favorite recipes- my winter wellness tea. Those of you who know me in person have probably seen me sipping on this tea at one point or another. I drink this tea all winter long and will brew up a cup at the slightest sign that I might be getting sick.

I’m not a doctor, so I can’t promise that this tea will prevent you from catching a cold or cure your flu. But I can tell you that it’ll warm you up in a way that only certain spices can. And it tastes good! At least, I think so.

Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, on to the recipe! You’re more likely to drink a tea that you enjoy, so feel free to modify the proportions to your personal taste. This also began as a modified version of a yogi tea, so it might seem familiar to those who are familiar with that.

What You’ll Need

Ginger root
Cinnamon stick
Turmeric
Peppercorns
Lemon
Honey (Optional. You can swap in your sweetener of choice, or leave it out altogether.)

Putting It All Together

Wash the lemon and ginger root, if you haven’t already.
Slice a few slices of each into the pot or kettle of your choosing. For a full kettle, I usually use about ½ the lemon and 4-6 slices of ginger, each about 1-1.5 mm thick. (If you’re using turmeric root instead of powder, include it in these first two steps.)
Add a cinnamon stick, 3-5 peppercorns, and a generous sprinkle of turmeric. I try to use enough that the water turns that yellowish-orange color, but not so much that I’ve got clumps of it floating around.
Add your water. I usually just use tap water, but you’re welcome to substitute purified or distilled water if it feels right to you.
Heat accordingly. If I’m using a kettle, I put it on a medium heat and the tea is usually ready when it starts whistling. If you’re using a pot, I’d suggest bringing it to a boil, then turning the heat down and letting it simmer for several minutes. Being a root, ginger can take a little bit to break down enough to release its active constituents.
Pour into a cup, add honey to taste, and enjoy!

This post is just meant to be sharing a recipe, so I won’t spend too much time explaining the benefits of each ingredient. I did want to include a short summary though for those who are curious. If you want to know more, keep an eye out for 12 Herbs for Winter Wellness.

Ginger – is thought to help kill influence virus and support the immune system

Cinnamon – antiseptic, helps fight infection

Turmeric – anti-inflammatory, helps with arthritis pain and achy joints; supports immune system

Peppercorns – is said to stimulate the central nervous system; anti-inflammatory; anti-microbial, helps clear respiratory tract; may prevent depression

Lemon – supports immune system; anti-inflammatory

Honey – cough suppressant

I hope you enjoy my winter wellness tea. Let me know what you think in the comments!