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POV: You’re feeling sick. 🤧 The couch is calling your name…but you drag yourself outside instead. You sit in the sun, and start feeling better? Magic? Keep reading to learn more about the science, and why I like to drink this healing tea recipe in the sun when I’m starting to get sick. It’s simple to make with just four ingredients: orange, ginger, honey, and water. For more of my favorite feel-good drinks, check out my Happy Tummy Tea and Morning Tonic for Stress.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Healing Tea Recipe
Here’s the backstory: Grandma always had a lounge chair in the sun ☀️ with fresh sourdough 🥖and tea 🫖 ready when we felt under the weather. I used to think this was the worst (sunburn and boredom, anyone?). But it turns out she was on to something. Open-air hospitals used fresh air and sunshine to heal colds, lung issues, and the flu long before modern hospitals became a thing.
Studies have found that vitamin D from the UV light protects against some bacteria and viruses. In addition to helping to fight infections from things like influenza and tuberculosis, sunlight has also been found to help your immune system regulate diseases like psoriasis.
The other day, I felt a tickle coming on, so I set myself up outside, just like she used to. A little fresh air, some sunshine, and now I’m feeling 100%. No fancy meds, just using what nature gave us for healing. And fresh sourdough doesn’t hurt either!
Growing up, what was something that gave you comfort or you were always given to heal?
🍵 Healing Tea Ingredients
- 🚰 Filtered Water keeps you hydrated and is the base of this herbal tea recipe.
- 🫚 Freshly Grated Ginger contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can “help strengthen your immune system” and reduce cold and flu symptoms. Plus, it gives the drink a warm, spiced flavor.
- 🍊 Orange provides vitamin C and gives the tea a bright, citrusy taste.
- 🍯 Honey sweetens it and eases coughing. I prefer raw honey, but any will work.
👩🍳 How to Make Healing Tea
- Boil water, then add the grated ginger and orange peel.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- How to Serve: Strain the liquid into a mug, discarding the ginger and orange. While it’s warm, stir in the honey.
🎥 Watch me make my homemade healing tea recipe.
🪄 Tips and Tricks
I have all of my favorite tea accessories on Amazon. Did you know I drink a cup of peppermint tea every morning? I even travel with a portable kettle! ✈️
🗒 Variations
- Cinnamon: Simmer a cinnamon stick in the water for extra anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Extra Citrus: Squeeze in a splash of lemon juice for a vitamin C boost.
- Tea: Add a chamomile or green tea bag to change the flavors.
- Iced Tea: Hot tea helps soothe a sore throat, but if you prefer iced tea, add some ice to cool it down.
🗒 Substitutions
- 🍋 Citrus: Replace orange rind with lemon.
- 🍯 Sweetener: Swap honey with maple syrup.
👝 How to Store
- 🍵 If you want it hot, drink it right after it’s made.
- 🧊 Otherwise, refrigerate it in an airtight container and drink it as iced tea. It’ll last about four days in the fridge.
- 🫖 You can also reheat it on the stove until warm.
🤔 Common Questions
I like to peel the skin off ginger with a spoon. You can also try using a vegetable peeler, but a spoon is typically easier. Then, you can grate it with a microplane.
Yes, this tea is caffeine-free, so it’s good to drink anytime of day. If you do want caffeine, add a green or black tea bag.
Healing Tea
Equipment
- Strainer
- Microplane
Ingredients
- 2 cups filtered water
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon organic orange peel
- 1 tablespoon honey, preferably raw honey
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan.
- Add freshly grated ginger and organic orange peel to the boiling water.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea into a mug to remove solids.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of raw honey while the tea is still warm.
Notes
- Add a cinnamon stick while simmering for extra anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Add a splash of lemon juice for a vitamin C boost and zesty flavor.