Ginger Iced Tea

Nothing beats the heat like a chilled glass of ginger iced tea. It’s a soothing, bold drink with a zesty kick, invigorating as it is refreshing. You need four simple ingredients and a few minutes to make this amazing drink.

Ginger Iced tea Freshly made and served in a glass full of ice with ginger slices.

I discovered this iced tea when I was in the USA. I had a bad flu, and this drink was suggested to help soothe my throat and keep me hydrated. After tweaking the recipe a little, it became one of my favorite drinks.

This ginger beverage has everything you want: a perfect blend of spicy and sweet flavors, a cool and soothing quality, and various health benefits.

It’s versatile enough to enjoy year-round, from hot summer days to chilly winter evenings. This iced tea will impress whether you’re sipping it solo or serving it at a gathering.

What Is Ginger Iced Tea?

Ginger iced tea is a delightful and refreshing tea. The ginger adds a spicy warmth that complements the zesty flavor of the lemon, creating a harmonious balance. It’s a versatile drink that can be customized to suit your taste—whether you like it sweetened or unsweetened.

Why People Love Ginger Iced Tea

  • Refreshing and Cooling: Its chilled temperature and refreshing taste make it perfect for cooling down on hot days.
  • Unique Combination: Combining ginger’s spicy kick and lemon’s zesty taste creates a unique flavor profile.
  • Versatility: Ginger iced tea is highly versatile. You can add herbs for freshness, like mint or basil, or other spices to enhance the flavor, like cardamom and cloves.
  • Year-Round Appeal: It can be enjoyed year-round. Its spicy warmth can be comforting during cooler weather and can be served hot or cold, depending on the season.

How Ginger Iced Tea Compares to Other Iced Teas

Ginger iced tea stands out from other iced teas for its distinctive flavor. While traditional iced teas can be mild and sweet, this tea has a bold spiciness that sets it apart.

Iced tea with lemon and ginger in a glass with ice cubes.

Ingredients

Ginger Roots: To make this recipe, you need fresh ginger. Do not use ginger paste sold in stores; it will not work. Instead, use a fresh ginger.

Sugar: I like to use raw sugar because it has a slight hint of caramel, but you can use white sugar or honey. Remember that the tea’s color will get darker if you use raw or brown sugar.

Lemon: We will use lemon juice, which adds a citrusy, fruity flavor to the iced tea.

Water: We will boil half the water, and the other half will stay at room temperature.

How to Make Ginger Iced Tea at Home

Step 1

Grate the ginger after peeling it; we will use the flesh and juices.

Step 2

Boil 3 cups of water.

Step 3

Add the boiling water, ginger, and sugar to a bowl. Mix and cover for an hour.

Step 4

Strain the previous mixture. Add the remaining water and lemon juice, stir, and set aside for 20 minutes.

Step 5

Refrigerate the cold ginger tea for 2 hours before serving.

Step 6

Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in the ginger iced tea. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves.

Expert Tips

  • When picking ginger, ensure it’s firm, and the skin has no wrinkles. Firm ginger means it has a lot of juice and is still fresh. Wrinkled ginger is old and dry.
  • Taste the lemon before adding it to the iced tea; some lemons smell good and look good but have a bitter taste. Which will ruin the whole experience.
  • Do not add lemon to the iced tea while it’s hot; you will lose some of its nutrients and end up with cloudy-looking tea.
  • The longer you keep the grated ginger in the water, the spicier it becomes.
  • Steeping time is crucial when making ginger iced tea. The tea can be weak and flavorless if you don’t steep it long enough. If you steep it too long, it can become bitter or overly strong.

Variations

Add lemon zest: If you want to add more nutrients to your tea, add lemon zest, but make sure to wash the lemon skin properly.

Use herbs: Add mint or basil leaves for a more refreshing flavor, but only after 15 minutes of pouring the hot water.

Different spices: Cardamom or cinnamon brightens up the ginger iced tea. Add them after pouring the hot water into the bowl or pitcher so they can release their oils.

Ginger tea in a glass with ginger slices.

How to Adjust the Recipe for Different Seasons

Adjust the ingredients and flavors to make ginger iced tea suitable for different seasons. Use more citrus and fresh herbs in the summer for a refreshing beverage.

Add warm, earthy spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and clove in winter for a cozy feel. In the summer, serve the ginger tea chilled with plenty of ice; in the Winter, serve it hot (if you prefer) to warm you up.

Storing

Refrigerate ginger iced tea for up to 3 days.

If you wish to freeze it, pour the iced tea into an ice cube tray, cover it well, and freeze for up to 3 months.

⭐ PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW

If you have tried this ginger iced tea recipe and liked it, please give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!

Ginger Iced tea Freshly made and served in a glass full of ice with ginger slices.

Ginger Iced Tea

Muna Kenny
Why ginger iced tea is your new favorite drink? It's bold, sweet, and packed with health-boosting ginger. Find out how to make it at home.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Steeping Tea 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 7 Servings
Calories 179 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup packed finely grated ginger
  • 1 ½ cup raw sugar
  • cup lemon juice
  • 6 ½ cup water room tempreature

Instructions
 

  • Boil 3 cups of water from the 6 ½ cups of water.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the boiling water, sugar, and ginger. Cover and keep a side for an hour.
  • Add the rest of the water to the pitcher and then add the lemon juice.
  • Stir well and keep aside covered for 20 minutes.
  • Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
  • Best served in a glass full of ice.

Notes

  • When picking ginger, make sure it’s firm and the skin has no wrinkles. Firm ginger means it has a lot of juice and is still fresh. Wrinkled ginger is old and dry.
  • Taste the lemon before adding it to the iced tea; some lemons smell good and look good but have a bitter taste. Which will ruin the whole experience.
  • Do not add lemon to the ginger iced tea while it’s hot; you will lose some of its nutrients and end up with cloudy-looking tea.
  • The longer you keep the grated ginger in the water, the spicier it becomes.
  • Steeping time is crucial when making ginger iced tea. The tea can be weak and flavorless if you don’t steep it long enough. If you steep too long, it can become bitter or overly strong.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword Ginger iced tea
Tried this recipe?Let us know in the comment section below!

6 Comments

  1. When ever I’m feeling crappy, I load my tea with ginger! These photos are gorgeous, as always !!

    1. This ginger tea makes one feels good from the first sip, you can actually feel the heat from the ginger soothing all your senses 🙂

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