Martha Shares Her Favorite Tea Recipe for Fighting a Cold

Whether you're feeling under the weather or are just trying to take in plenty of immune-boosting fruits and vegetables to ward off potential colds, flus, or COVID-19, drinking tea can improve your overall health. If you're trying to enjoy more good-for-you beverages right now, we have a feeling that this recipe from Martha Stewart will become your new go-to drink. Our founder loves drinking Ginger Lemon Brown Sugar Tea as an old-fashioned remedy for a sore or itchy throat.

To make Martha's favorite drink, combine a two-inch piece of fresh ginger (skin on, sliced thinly), ¼ cup of light or dark brown sugar, one lemon (skin on, sliced), and four cups of water in a saucepan. Bring all of the ingredients to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. "You have the most delicious drink that is soothing to an irritated throat and so beneficial to your general health," says Martha.

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All of the ingredients used to make this tea offer health benefits, even for anyone who isn't sick. In addition to alleviating an aching stomach, ginger is rich with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can protect against diseases and cancer, and reduce inflammation. Lemon is an all-around, feel-good ingredient that can help aid digestion when heated with water. In China, many people drink tea made from brown sugar, ginger, and hot water to soothe cramps and nausea.

Make a big pitcher of this nourishing beverage for your family to sip all week long. And in the age of social distancing, Martha knows that this won't be a traditional tea party. Her recommendation? "Drink it with anybody else nearby—at least six feet away," says Martha.