Ginger Tea Three Ways
On chilly fall nights, nothing hits the spot better than a mug full of ginger tea. Like I explained in my Peppermint Tea recipe, I haven't always been a tea drinker, but peppermint tea was really my gateway to the world of teas. Now I keep ginger root in the kitchen all winter so I can brew a mug whenever the mood strikes.
I prefer ginger tea made with just water and ginger, but I know many people prefer sweeter, more flavorful or creamier teas. So in this recipe, I'm giving you three delicious ways to take your ginger tea.
My ginger-apple tea variation is similar to apple cider, but with more of a ginger kick than traditional apple cider. The apple adds a subtle sweetness that is perfectly complemented by a spoonful of maple syrup.
My ginger tea latte lies at the sweet and creamy end of the spectrum. With this variation, you can really recreate a cafe experience. All you need is a bit of sweetener and some foamed or steamed milk — no equipment required!
Let me know what you think of the recipe and don't forget to follow the sustainability tips below!
Time: 10-20 minutes
Serves: 1 mug of tea
Ingredients
Ginger Tea
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2-inch piece of ginger root
Ginger-Apple Tea
1 1/2 cups water
1-inch piece of ginger root
1 apple cut into slices, discarding the core
2 teaspoons maple syrup
Ginger Tea Latte
3/4 c water
1 1/2-inch piece of ginger root
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 cup milk
Nut milks tend to separate in hot liquid, so stick to cows' milk or oat milk
Methods
For the Ginger Tea
Cut the ginger into thin slices. Place the ginger and water in a small saucepot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
Let tea boil for 5-10 minutes. Boil longer for a stronger tea, or shorter for a milder tea. Strain into a small mug. Sweeten to taste, if desired.
For the Ginger-Apple Tea
Cut the ginger and apple into slices. Place ginger, apple and water in a small saucepot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
Let tea boil for 15-20 minutes. Boil longer for a stronger tea, or shorter for a milder tea. Strain into a small mug and stir in maple syrup.
For the Ginger Tea Latte
Cut the ginger into thin slices. Place the ginger and water in a small saucepot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
Let tea boil for 10-12 minutes. Boil longer for a stronger tea, or shorter for a milder tea.
While the tea is boiling, microwave the milk in a large bowl until hot. Then, whisk the hot milk until very frothy. If you have a milk steamer or a frother, feel free to use those instead of whisking.
Strain tea into a mug and stir in maple syrup. Gently pour the milk into the tea.
Sustainability Tips
Ginger and apple: Make this drink during fall or winter, when ginger and apples are in season. Doing so will make it easier to find local and organic produce. Buying organically and locally cuts down on pesticide contamination and can help you get to know your local food producers.
Maple syrup: Go for local syrup! This will decrease GHGs from travel and maybe even help you get to know your local syrup producers. Read all about it in my liquid sweeteners post!
Milk: Since cows contribute a lot to climate change, I like to buy my dairy products from B Corps, which are held to really high environmental and social standards. Alternatively, you could use oat milk as a vegan substitution for cows' milk.