Ginger is an effective home remedy for numerous health ailments, and ginger tea is an easy way to benefit from the bulb’s healthy botanicals. However, there are a few details to consider when preparing it.
Ginger powder and ready-made tea bags can also be used for the preparation, but tea made from fresh ginger is said to have the best health effects. This is relatively easy to prepare, but some details should be considered.
Ginger is a versatile medicinal plant
Ginger has been shown to help against nausea, stabilize blood sugar levels and relieve pain from osteoarthritis. An effect against high blood pressure and inflammation as well as support in losing weight and relief from menstrual pain have also been proven in individual studies. Ginger tea is also a popular home remedy for colds.
All you need to prepare ginger tea is a little hot water and a fresh root of ginger, whereby the latter should be of organic quality so that the peel can be used. Because it contains a particularly large number of healthy ingredients. Only thorough washing is still required. If the ginger has not been grown organically, the bulb should be peeled.
You can tell whether the ginger is fresh by looking at the skin. This should look plump and smooth, because the longer ginger is stored, the more shriveled the skin will be.
How to prepare ginger tea yourself
For a large cup of ginger tea, a piece of ginger about the size of a walnut is thinly sliced or grated. It is important that the ginger is only cut or grated immediately before preparation, otherwise important ingredients will be lost.
The crushed ginger is placed in a cup and then poured over with hot to boiling water. However, the infusion temperature at which the best result is achieved is still a matter of debate today. Boiling water is usually recommended.
Whichever water temperature you choose, it is important to let the tea steep for around ten minutes so that the essential oils of the ginger can be released into the tea.
Sharper taste with a longer brewing time
The longer the tea steeps, the higher the concentration of the healthy ingredients, but the more intense the spiciness of the ginger comes through, which some people don’t like the taste of. You can reduce the spiciness by shortening the brewing time, but this can be at the expense of the healthy ingredients.
It is also possible to boil the ginger directly with the water and let it simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes, as is the traditional preparation in Ayurveda.
After the brewing time, the tea can be poured through a sieve and rounded off with lemon and/or honey as desired. When cooled, it can also be kept for at least a day and as ginger water it can bring refreshment on hot days. (fp)
