Summer is coming and with it, the craving for refreshing drinks. As I cannot drink the soft drinks on sale –  way too sweet for me! – I drink only cool water most of the time. Because I do not have the habit of buying soft drinks when I do my grocery shopping, I found myself a few times in the embarrassing situation of having nothing else to offer to my guests than water or herbal teas! So I happened to concoct homemade drinks in a hurry, just to have a nice drink to offer to my guests.

The main ingredient of this recipe is ginger, a plant from Asia. Besides being manganese rich, it is renowned for thousands of years for its health benefits: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, it is deemed to stimulate bile and digestive enzymes secretion. The fresh lemon juice will give your homemade drink a tangy note and will stimulate your taste buds while providing vitamin C. Finally, the honey will give a final touch of sweetness. Choose it raw, to ensure you get the best from its nutritional benefits and flavor. For those who need to watch their sugar intake, a few drops of stevia will do the trick.

I love having this drink in the morning to boost my energy levels. It is also perfect in the afternoon on a hot and sunny day. You can also enjoy it warm in winter: it is great against cold  and sore throat!

Yield: ~1 liter

• 1.5 liters water
• 10 cm fresh ginger
• 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Directions

1. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Meanwhile, peel the ginger and cut it into coarse slices.
3. When the water boils, add the ginger. Boil for 10 minutes.
4. Filter and let cool.
5. When the tea is lukewarm, squeeze the lemon.
6. Add the lemon juice and honey. Mix well.
7. Keep in the fridge until serving.

Enjoy your tea and see you soon!

Eleonora