Recipe: Ginger-Lemon-Honey Tea for Seasonal Allergies

Bonjour!

Though it’s the middle of June, spring has barely arrived in Vermont, and pollen is everywhere. My nose is dripping, my throat is scratchy and sore, and my eyes are bloodshot and itchy, zut alors.

I used to just pop a Claritin or Sudafed and drag myself through the rest of my day in a drug-induced stupor. Now I try natural, homeopathic remedies like cough drops and herbal tea first before taking medication to avoid brain fog and stomach upset. This post shares my recipe for a tisane that soothes the throat with honey, clears the sinuses with ginger, and boosts immunity with vitamin C.

My German friend, Christiane, inspired this recipe, much like she taught me about Orangina (and how to make it at home!) and Brotzeit, a Bavarian version of a picnic featuring pretzels, ham, and radishes. When she has a sore throat or a sniffle, Chris makes this soothing tincture at home that’s bursting with vitamin C from the lemon and throat-soothing honey. She made it for me when I visited her in the Black Forest in October 2018, and now I make it all the time while I’m working from home in Vermont.

Les Ingrédients

• 1/2-1 t. honey, local and organic if possible
• 1-2 slices fresh ginger root, shaved off with vegetable peeler
• Fresh juice of 1/4 to 1/2 lemon, organic if possible
• 1 bag of herbal tea of choice (my favorites are Twinings Chamomile, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime, or Yogi Lemon Ginger)

La Recette

• Place honey, ginger, lemon juice, and tea bag in your favorite mug.
• Boil water and pour into mug.
• Stir gently to dissolve honey.
• Steep to desired strength, 3-5 minutes.
• Remove ginger if you prefer, and enjoy! Délicieux!

Tasting Notes

• Organic. I started incorporating organic ingredients in my low-FODMAP diet. I like knowing my food has less junk in and on it.
• Honey: Local honey can help you with your immune system and allergies. Try to find honey made as close to where you live as possible. Local, raw, and organic is preferred.
• Ginger. I rarely have fresh ginger root just casually lying around. Thus, I typically stock some sort of ginger tea in my cupboard so I can make this tea on demand. Ginger tea can be very strong after just 3-4 minutes. Brew cautiously!
• Herbal teas. I prefer chamomile, Sleepytime, lemon, ginger, or other herbal blends for this recipe. It probably wouldn’t taste very good with fruity or flowery teas. And y’all, I have drunk a lot of chamomile in my day, and Twinings is the superior tea.
• Stomach ache. I also make this tea if my stomach is upset. It’s FODMAP-friendly and pleasant to drink if you have IBS or other digestive disorders. The ginger helps settle mal à l’estomac.

What are your homeopathic remedies for seasonal allergies?