Ginger Lemon Honey Immunity Tonic
The cold-season remedy every grandmother swears by — fresh ginger, lemon and honey in hot water. Soothing for a scratchy throat and a heavy head. Keep a jar of the ginger-lemon-honey base in the fridge for instant cups.
Why you'll love this recipe
- An old world recipe, made the way it always was
- Not one spoon of refined sugar
- Sweetened with real honey
- Makes enough for 2
- Easy, with clear steps and nothing fussy
What you'll need
Everything here is a real ingredient you can find in a normal shop. Nothing artificial, no powders pretending to be sugar. Here is the full list, with the quantities I actually use.
- 2 cups (480 ml) hot water
- 2-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced or grated
- Juice of 1 lemon + a few slices
- 2 tbsp raw honey (stir in warm, not boiling)
- Optional: pinch cayenne, sprig of mint
How to make it
Steep the ginger in just-boiled water 8–10 minutes (longer = stronger and warmer).
Let it cool for a minute below boiling.
Stir in the lemon juice and honey (adding honey to very hot water destroys its enzymes).
Add a pinch of cayenne if you want extra warmth.
Strain into mugs; float a lemon slice.
Save this one for later — hover the image to pin it.
Storage
Keep it covered in the fridge and it will hold for three to four days. If you are making it ahead, hold back any fresh topping until just before you serve so nothing goes soft. Most of these freeze well too, wrapped tight, for up to three months.
Questions about this recipe
Is Ginger Lemon Honey Immunity Tonic really made without refined sugar?
Yes. All the sweetness comes from honey - there is not one spoon of white sugar in it. That is the whole point of how I cook.
How long does Ginger Lemon Honey Immunity Tonic keep?
Kept covered in the fridge it holds for three to four days. Most of these freeze well too, wrapped tight, for up to three months - hold back any fresh topping until just before serving.
How many does Ginger Lemon Honey Immunity Tonic make?
This makes enough for 2. It scales cleanly, so use the 1x / 2x / 3x buttons on the recipe card if you need more or less.
Ginger Lemon Honey Immunity Tonic
The cold-season remedy every grandmother swears by — fresh ginger, lemon and honey in hot water. Soothing for a scratchy throat and a heavy head. Keep a jar of the…
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480 ml) hot water
- 2-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced or grated
- Juice of 1 lemon + a few slices
- 2 tbsp raw honey (stir in warm, not boiling)
- Optional: pinch cayenne, sprig of mint
Instructions
- Steep the ginger in just-boiled water 8–10 minutes (longer = stronger and warmer).
- Let it cool for a minute below boiling.
- Stir in the lemon juice and honey (adding honey to very hot water destroys its enzymes).
- Add a pinch of cayenne if you want extra warmth.
- Strain into mugs; float a lemon slice.
