Cold remedy tea recipe

I call this “The Kitchen Prescription”. This cold remedy tea recipe has been my go-to for years when I’m under the weather. Lemon, mint, ginger and honey tea soothes your sore throat and warms you up to get you get through even the worst colds.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in my citrus iced tea and my lemon thyme lemonade recipes. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my drink recipes in one place.

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Cold remedy tea

This concoction is the best tea for a cold. When you’re feeling under the weather, or not feeling your best, this lemon ginger mint tea will help soothe you.

I have worked in my fair share of professional kitchens and in most of them, there was a pot of something like this brewing all winter long. At the start of every shift, a batch of this ginger tea for a common cold was set on a flame and throughout the day, we restored it’s ingredients, never letting it get too low.

What you need to know

This ginger root tea for a cold is a soothing remedy to help get you through it. Even if you’re not under the weather, it’s a tasty, zingy beverage to keep you feeling good.

An occasional cinnamon stick, a few star anise, or pieces of lemongrass have all found their way into the pot. It’s not an exact science. This tea for cough and sore throat is not a cure-all. It won’t make your cold disappear any faster, but it will make the suffering a little more manageable.

You can make a double of triple batch of this tea and store it in the fridge. Then, heat it up as needed, or enjoy it cold.

Ingredients

To make this homemade tea for a cough, you’ll need a couple of quarts of water, a thumb-sized piece of ginger, a handful of mint, a spoonful of peppercorns, slices of lemons, and honey – this is the basic formula. 

You can add in a cinnamon stick, additional citrus like limes or oranges, star anise, turmeric, or chile peppers for a spicy kick.

How to make

Here’s a quick summary of how to make cold remedy tea recipe. Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe. 

1. Prep – Gather all of your ingredients.
2. Slice the lemon and the ginger.
3. Simmer the tea for 10 – 20 minutes. Note: the mint leaves will discolor when they hit the lemon juice. It’s ok.
4. Strain the tea, add honey to taste, and enjoy.

Cold remedy tea FAQ’s

Variations and substitutions

Try these variations for the best hot tea for a cough.

• Herbal tea – This tastes great with a bag or two of green tea or chamomile tossed into the pot, it makes the tea a bit “zingy”.
• Chile – A chile pepper will help clear your sinuses. Choose a pepper that is mildly spicy to you (everyone’s tolerance is different).
• Turmeric – A dash of this golden-hued spice is a great addition to the remedy tea. Black pepper and turmeric work well together.
• Citrus – Swap out lemon for lime or orange, or use a combination.

The next time you’re hit with a cold, or you’re feeling a bit run down, put a big pot of this homemade remedy on the stove. Inhale the delicious aroma of this tea (as well as you can through your stuffy nose) and hopefully you’ll be on the mend soon.

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Originally published 1/10/16, most recent update 11/22/24.