Description
Korean Ginger Tea (Saenggangcha) is a traditional caffeine-free drink made with fresh ginger and honey. It’s soothing, spicy, and slightly sweet—perfect for boosting comfort, aiding digestion, or warming up on cold days. Serve it hot or cold, with optional pine nuts for garnish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh ginger (about a 4–5 inch piece), peeled and grated or pureed
- 1 cup honey (raw or regular)
- Water (boiling for hot tea, cold or iced for cold tea)
- Pine nuts (optional, for garnish)
- Ice cubes (optional, for cold version)
Instructions
- Ginger-Honey Mixture: Combine 1 cup grated or pureed fresh ginger with 1 cup honey. Stir well and store in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator.
- To Make Hot Tea: Add 2–3 tablespoons of the ginger-honey mixture to a cup. Pour in boiling water and stir. Add pine nuts if desired.
- To Make Cold Tea: Add 3 tablespoons of the mixture to a glass of cold water. Stir well, then add ice cubes and optional pine nuts.
- Traditional Method (Optional): Thinly slice 1 cup ginger, mix with 1 cup honey or sugar, store in fridge. Simmer 3 tablespoons of the mixture with 1½ cups water for 10 minutes. Strain before serving.
Notes
- Add lemon juice or turmeric for extra health benefits and flavor.
- Use maple syrup or agave if honey isn’t available (note flavor difference).
- Mix with green tea or sparkling water for variations.
- Store the ginger-honey base in the fridge up to 3 weeks in a sealed jar.
- Don’t microwave the honey mixture directly—boil water separately.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0–10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mixing / Simmering
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
