Ginger Tea Alternative | How to Spice it Up

Ginger tea is a popular beverage that has been used for centuries to treat various ailments and diseases. However, it’s always good to have some variety in our taste palette. In this article, you will find five great alternatives to ginger tea that you can try. By doing this, you can keep things interesting and still get your daily dose of nutrients. Ginger tea is perfect for chilly days, as it has a somewhat spicy taste that can warm you up. It can also be used as a refreshing, alcohol-free substitute for a nightcap. Additionally, it can help calm irritated tummies and reduce indigestion. So, give these alternatives a try and see which one you like best!

Ginger chai tea

Easy peasy, add some cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves to your ginger tea. 

Add a splash of milk, and that’s it! You can also add some ginger to your chai latte—it’s just as easy.

Ginger latte with anise

To prepare this beverage, you can use dried or fresh ginger. Heat 250 ml almond milk with honey (or agave syrup), dried anise, and 1 tsp coconut oil. Add the ginger (shot), and your ginger latte is ready to serve!

Ginger juice with turmeric

There’s no better pick-me-up than a fresh ginger shot in the morning. Now, you can buy this ready-made at your supermarket or, for example, from Dr Detox, but you can also get started yourself. Take 500 ml of cold water, 100 grams of ginger, 1 tbsp of turmeric, and a pinch of black pepper, and puree them in a blender. Then, drain the mixture into a container. You can keep this mixture sealed for seven days. Did you know that ginger and turmeric descend from the same plant family? Both contain antioxidants such as curcumin. So go well together!

Golden Latte

Golden Latte is both an alternative to ginger tea and an alternative to coffee! This heartwarming drink originates from Indian culture, where it is regularly drunk for all the health benefits of turmeric. The spice mix of turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon warms and is perfect to start the day or as a pick-me-up. You can easily make this by supplementing your Turmeric with almond milk, a pinch of cinnamon, and a few slices of ginger. A dash of honey or agave syrup is also delicious! Enjoy!

Matcha/ginger iced tea

The best of both worlds, matcha and ginger are packed with nutrients to boost your immune system. Matcha is a concentrated variant of green tea, making it an excellent base for iced tea and a perfect alternative to ginger tea during hot days. Use one capsule of Matcha for an espresso shot of matcha. Top up with 1500 ml of warm water, juice of 1 lemon, 3 cm of ginger (peeled), 5 tbsp agave syrup, and mint leaves. Let cool, add ice cubes, and enjoy!

How to Make Ginger Tea?

You can try several ginger tea methods; the easiest is truly the best way. Here’s how to do it:

• Thinly slice your fresh ginger. You don’t need to peel it first. Plan to use roughly one-inch piece of ginger per cup of tea. Rinse and scrape away any visible dirt.
• Combine the ginger with new water in a saucepan (one cup per serving).
• Take the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
• After five minutes, simmer (up to 10 minutes if you want extra-strong tea). I usually consider it hot enough after five minutes.
• Pour the tea using a fine strainer to remove all of the ginger. If you’d like to add complimentary acidity to your tea, serve it with a thin round of lemon or orange. A drizzle of honey will tame the spicy ginger flavor and might also be appreciated.

Turmeric vs. Ginger

A flowering plant called ginger (Zingiber officinale) comes from ginger roots. The Zingiberaceae family includes the ginger plant and the flowering plant turmeric (Curcuma longa). The fact that these plants are members of the same family may make them appear interchangeable, but there are contrasts between the two, and there is support for both sides of the turmeric vs. ginger argument.

Turmeric and ginger are well-known in Indian culture. Ginger and turmeric both resemble rhizomes. When purchased at the grocery store, turmeric and yellow ginger have plant stems that resemble brown, knotty roots; however, when these roots are powdered, they may be visually distinguished. Turmeric powder is a golden orange, while ground ginger is tan or pale yellow.

Drinking Ginger Tea to Cure Nausea

Turmeric has no documented effects on relieving nausea, although steeping a sliced turmeric root in hot water for turmeric tea may strengthen your immune system because curcumin contains antioxidants. Instead, ingesting turmeric or taking pills containing curcumin can cause nausea and upset stomach. Ginger, on the other hand, has antiemetic effects on the body. Through intake, it helps to lessen nausea caused by chemotherapy, surgery, or motion sickness.

Slice off a one-inch piece of ginger root per cup of tea after cleaning it off dirt. Please put it in the pan with the water, bring it to a boil, and then turn down the heat. After simmering for five minutes, turn off the heat and strain the liquid into your cup using a sieve or sifter. If you’d like more acidity, add a piece of lemon.

How to Freeze ginger for safe storage

The pieces you select should be plump, firm, wrinkle-free, and fragrant since they will taste the best. The ginger doesn’t need to be peeled or chopped before freezing; however, it is better to break it up into smaller bits if it is enormous or you know you will need specific pieces for cooking. To enable rapid identification later, put the ginger pieces into bags or containers and label them with the contents, date, and quantity (either by weight or by inch measurement). You can freeze ginger quickly by tightly sealing it in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container.

Are there side effects of consuming ginger tea?

You can brew ginger tea using fresh ginger or a tea bag from the shop. While ginger is primarily safe, some people may experience mild adverse effects, including heartburn, diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal pain.

Heartburn

Acid reflux results in heartburn, which causes a burning sensation in the lower chest. 16 of the 109 studies and reviews that the researchers looked at in one systematic review indicated heartburn as a negative side effect. However, some experts suggest ingesting 1 to 1.5 g of dried ginger daily to help cure heartburn. 

Digestive effects

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Ginger may result in the following side effects: abdominal pain, gas, and bloating diarrhea. Ginger can, however, speed up gastric emptying. In turn, this can aid in reducing the signs and symptoms of stomach pain. Ginger helps lessen the strain on the lower esophageal sphincter, which can help to reduce gas and bloat.

Bleeding

Ginger could promote bleeding. It prevents platelet thromboxane. The blood clots and arteries tighten due to a chemical that platelets produce. There are also worries that ginger may interfere with blood-thinning drugs like warfarin. Because of this, patients shouldn’t consume ginger before having surgery. Before ingesting any ginger, anyone with bleeding issues should consult their physician.