Fresh ginger tea is made by simmering thin slices of ginger root in water for about 10 minutes, then straining. My base recipe uses 1/4 cup of thin ginger slices (about 24 g) for every 2½ cups of water, which makes 2 cups of tea. Below you will find a timing chart for how long to boil ginger, a ratio table for any batch size, three easy variations, and the calories for each one.
The tea is naturally caffeine-free and very low in calories, so it is an easy cup to make any time of day. Honey and lemon are optional, and I show what they add so you can choose.
Fresh Ginger Tea at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Time | 5 minutes prep, 10 minutes simmering |
| Makes | 2 cups |
| Base ratio | 1/4 cup thin ginger slices (24 g) to 2½ cups water |
| Caffeine | None, no tea leaves are used |
| Calories | Under 10 per cup plain, about 35 with honey and lemon |
Ingredients and Swaps
- Fresh ginger: choose a firm piece with smooth skin. Slice it thinly so more surface touches the water. Peeling is optional: Minimalist Baker leaves it up to you, while Tasting Table recommends peeling the skin off. I wash it well and peel it when the skin looks dry or wrinkled.
- Water: filtered water gives the cleanest flavor.
- Sweetener: honey is the classic. Maple syrup, agave, and stevia are also common choices, according to Minimalist Baker.
- Lemon: a wedge or a tablespoon of juice brightens the spicy flavor.
- Add-ins: a cinnamon stick, a strip of orange peel, or a few fennel seeds can simmer with the ginger. Minimalist Baker lists all three as options.
How Long to Boil Ginger for Tea
Recipes disagree on timing, so here is how the main sources compare. In general, a longer simmer gives a stronger, spicier tea:
| Method | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Pour boiling water over slices in a mug | About 10 minutes of steeping | Quick and gentle, the easiest option for one cup |
| Simmer | 7 minutes | Milder, according to Minimalist Baker |
| Simmer | 10 minutes | The minimum for a good simmered tea, according to Tasting Table. My default. |
| Simmer | 12 minutes | Stronger, according to Minimalist Baker |
| Large batch simmer | About 25 minutes | Tasting Table cites Food Network for this time with 1 cup of slices per 8 cups of water |
Start with 10 minutes, taste, and adjust next time.
Simmering gently is enough. Once the water reaches a boil, it does not need to keep boiling hard.
Ginger Tea Ratios for Any Batch
| Tea you want | Ginger slices | Water | Simmer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 2 tablespoons (12 g) | 1¼ cups | 10 minutes |
| 2 cups (base recipe) | 1/4 cup (24 g) | 2½ cups | 10 minutes |
| 4 cups | 1/2 cup (48 g) | 5 cups | 10 to 12 minutes |
These amounts are my own scaling of the base recipe. The water simmers off a little, which is why the water amount is slightly higher than the tea you end up with. For a big pot, the large-batch ratio cited by Tasting Table is 1 cup of slices to 8 cups of water.
How to Make Fresh Ginger Tea
- Wash the ginger and slice it thinly. Peel it first if you prefer.
- Add the ginger and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Use 7 minutes for a milder tea or 12 for a stronger one.
- Strain into two mugs.
- Add honey to taste and a squeeze of lemon if you like. Serve hot.
Fresh Ginger Tea
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Description
A simple fresh ginger tea made by simmering thin ginger slices in water for 10 minutes. Serve it plain, or with honey and lemon.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh ginger (about 24 g)
- 2 1/2 cups (590 ml) water
- Honey, to taste (optional)
- Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the ginger and slice it thinly. Peeling is optional.
- Add the ginger and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Use 7 minutes for a milder tea or 12 minutes for a stronger one.
- Strain into two mugs.
- Stir in honey to taste and add a squeeze of lemon if you like. Serve hot.
Notes
Strength: simmer 7 minutes for a mild tea, 10 for a medium tea, and 12 for a strong, spicy tea. Peeling is optional. Storage: keep leftover tea in a covered jar in the fridge and reheat gently, or serve it over ice. Nutrition is an estimate from USDA raw ginger root (FDC 169231) and assumes all of the ginger calories end up in the cup, which overstates a strained tea. Honey and lemon are not included.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 8 fl oz / 240 ml)
- Calories: 10
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 0.2g
Keywords: fresh ginger tea, homemade ginger tea, ginger tea recipe
3 Easy Variations
Lemon Honey Ginger Tea
Make the base tea, then stir 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into each cup. Add the lemon after straining, not while simmering, so the flavor stays fresh.
Ginger Mint Tea
Take the pot off the heat after simmering, add a small handful of fresh mint leaves, cover, and let it sit for 3 minutes before straining. The mint softens the spice.
Iced Ginger Tea
Cool the strained tea, chill it in the fridge, and pour it over ice with a lemon slice. Because ice dilutes the drink, I make the iced version with the 12-minute simmer.
Ginger Tea Calories and Sugar
| Cup of tea | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Plain ginger tea | Under 10 | Under 1 g |
| With 1 teaspoon honey and 1 tablespoon lemon juice | About 35 | About 6 g |
How I worked this out: USDA lists raw ginger root at 80 calories per 100 g, and 1/4 cup of slices weighs 24 g, so the ginger in the pot holds about 19 calories. I split that across 2 cups and assumed all of it ends up in the cup, which overstates a strained tea. A tablespoon of honey is about 64 calories and 17 g of sugar, so a teaspoon is about 21 calories and 6 g. A tablespoon of raw lemon juice adds about 3 calories and less than 1 g of sugar. These are estimates, so other ingredients will change the numbers.
Troubleshooting Your Ginger Tea
- Too spicy: add hot water to your cup, use fewer slices next time, or shorten the simmer to 7 minutes.
- Too weak: slice the ginger thinner, add a few more slices, or simmer for 12 minutes.
- The flavor is flat: add a squeeze of lemon, or simmer a cinnamon stick with the ginger.
- Too sweet with honey: start with half a teaspoon and add more only if you need it.
Storage and Make Ahead
Minimalist Baker says the tea keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week and in the freezer for up to a month, and suggests freezing it in ice cube trays. I prefer to drink mine within a few days for the best flavor. Store it in a covered jar, then reheat gently or serve it over ice. Add honey and lemon when you serve rather than before storing.
Fresh Ginger Tea FAQ
How long should I boil ginger for tea?
Simmer thin slices for about 10 minutes. Use 7 minutes for a milder tea and 12 minutes for a stronger one. For a large pot, plan on about 25 minutes. See the timing table above.
Do I need to peel ginger for tea?
No. Peeling is optional. Minimalist Baker leaves it up to you, and Tasting Table recommends peeling. Wash the ginger well, and peel it if the skin looks dry or wrinkled.
How much ginger do I use per cup?
For one cup of tea, use 2 tablespoons of thin ginger slices (about 12 g) and 1 1/4 cups of water. The ratio table above shows amounts for 2 and 4 cups.
Does ginger tea have caffeine?
Not when it is made with only ginger and water. No tea leaves are used, so the tea has no caffeine.
How many calories are in ginger tea?
Plain ginger tea has under 10 calories per cup by my estimate from USDA data. Adding 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice brings it to about 35 calories.
Can I make ginger tea ahead of time?
Yes. Store it in a covered jar in the refrigerator, then reheat it or serve it over ice. Minimalist Baker says it keeps for up to a week, and I prefer to drink it within a few days.
Can I use the same ginger slices twice?
You can simmer used slices again for a weaker second cup. Expect a milder flavor, so add a few fresh slices if you want more spice.
Sources
- Minimalist Baker: How to Make Fresh Ginger Tea
- Tasting Table: The Minimum Steep Time For Tea Made With Fresh Ginger
- USDA SR Legacy: Ginger root, raw (FDC 169231)
- University Hospitals: Honey, 1 tbsp nutrition facts
- USDA SR Legacy: Lemon juice, raw (FDC 167747)
Want more warm drinks? Try our lemongrass ginger tea, our cold brew hibiscus tea, or browse the types of herbal tea and how to make herbal tea blends at home.