This recipe for honey lemon tea for sore throats is what I make throughout the winter for my family for sore throats, congestion or a pick me up when we feel a cold coming on.
What is in honey lemon tea?
Three simple ingredients make up this good for you tea. It consists of freshly squeezed lemon juice, honey and water. You can also add in some ginger if you like. There are also a few optional herbs I’ll mention later.
This tea tastes better when using fresh lemon juice, but a store bought lemon juice without preservatives works well too. I use raw honey since it has the benefits of being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
You can slice some ginger to steep in this tea as well. This is especially good if you are having tummy issues. Ginger is also great for lowering inflammation.
It should be noted that I am not a medical doctor or a medical professional and this is not meant to be a replacement for a doctor’s medical advice. This recipe is meant for informational purposes only and not meant to treat or diagnose any illness. It should also be noted that you should not give raw honey to infants under 1 year of age due to the risk of botulism.
Always consult your doctor before using herbs as some interactions with medications can occur. Also consult a doctor before using any herbs if you are pregnant or nursing. And do your own thorough research before using them.
Why make this tea?
This is our go to during cold and flu season to sooth our throats and cough. My kids love it, so it’s easy to get them to drink it when they feel ill. Sometimes, we just like to make it because it makes a soothing hot drink when the house gets chilly. Because of that, I keep lemons on hand throughout the winter just for this remedy.
Besides the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits, this tea is great for sore throats. My toddlers love it, although I do have to add a little extra honey for them. Honey works well as a natural cough suppressant. Honey doesn’t have to be raw to get this benefit either. Pasteurized honey works well at soothing a persistent cough.
Just be sure not to use too much since honey is still a sugar. I only use 1-2 teaspoons per cup of tea in this recipe.
While this tea is great for sore throats, it’s also a good boost of vitamin C which is important for helping your immune system fight off viruses. Getting enough vitamin C also helps our bodies absorb iron, another essential nutrient.
This tea is also just a soothing drink for cold days. While lemonade sounds good during the heat of summer, this sweet but warm tea is perfect for curling up next to the fireplace or heater and sipping slowly.
This tea is good for your and cozy, but it’s also a frugal remedy! It costs a lot less than a bottle of cough syrup. Especially if you already have the ingredients on hand. A bag of lemons can get you many many cups of this tea while a jar of honey will last even longer!
Add-ins for honey lemon tea for sore throats:
- Ginger– slice a little up and let steep for 5 minutes
- Thyme-add a sprig or two to your tea and let steep for 5 minutes. It is antibacterial and a natural expectorant.
- Peppermint-While peppermint is good for tummy troubles too, it does have antiseptic properties and can relieve some congestion.
- Sage– can help clear up congestion and is also anti-inflammatory. It has a drying effect and shouldn’t be used when nursing or pregnant!
You can see in the picture below that I added a couple sprigs of dried thyme to mine.
How to make honey lemon tea:
Ingredients:
- Juice from half of a lemon
- 1-2 tsps. honey
- 1/2-1 cup of water
- 1 tsp. of add-ins
- Start by heating your water in a teapot or boiling pot. Once it comes to a boil, let it rest for a few seconds to cool slightly. You don’t want to pour boiling water on your raw honey!
- Squeeze the juice from half of a lemon into a teacup or small coffee cup.
- Add 1 tsp. honey.
- Once the water is heated, pour over lemon and honey and stir well. The most water I ever add is 1 cup to my tea, but it is typically about 1/2 a cup. Using a smaller mug or tea cup works better. You can stop here or if you are using any add ins, put them in now and let steep for about 5 minutes before removing.
- Once your tea is cool enough to drink, enjoy!
If you decide you don’t like as much lemon or maybe you want more, change it to your tastes. Both the lemon and honey amounts can be tweaked.
I hope you give this soothing tea a try in your own home. If you have any add ins that you use, let me know in the comments below! And if you want another diy recipe, check out this post for fruit scrap vinegar here.
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