Ginger tea

Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea. When made with fresh ginger root, it will be far tastier than ginger tea brewed from a stale tea bag. Many people find that the best time to drink ginger tea is in the morning because it's an invigorating way to start the day.

Ginger tea is sometimes called ginger water. It is, quite simply, hot water infused with fresh ginger. It's a spicy drink that can be adjusted to taste by adding more ginger or letting it steep longer. This recipe brightens up the flavor with fresh lime juice and sweetens it with honey. It can be enjoyed either hot or cold, it's really easy to mix up a big batch to store in the fridge.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger root (about 2 inches)

• 4 cups water

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (juice of 1/2 lime), optional

• 1 to 2 tablespoons honey, to taste

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.

3. In a 1 1/4-quart pot, add the water and ginger, and bring to a boil for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger.

4. Remove it from the heat, strain, and add the lime juice and honey to taste. Enjoy your ginger tea.

Tips

• The secret to the perfect ginger tea is lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor. You really can't overdo it, so feel free to add as much ginger as you want and keep it simmering for as long as you want.

• The roots are typically about 1 inch in diameter, and a 2-inch section should yield about 2 tablespoons of sliced ginger. When measuring by weight, a 2-inch segment should be about 1/2 ounce.

• If you have leftover ginger root, you can freeze it to use later.

• For tea throughout the week, make a big batch by doubling or tripling the recipe. Store the tea in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Drink it cold or heat it up one cup at a time within a week for the freshest taste.

• When storing ginger tea, you may notice some sediment form. It's common for particles from the strained ginger to settle, and it's safe to drink. To avoid it, strain the tea through one or two layers of cheesecloth.