Ginger tea
Ginger tea is a herbal beverage that is made from ginger root. It has a long history as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia.
Regional variations and customs
Ginger tea can be drunk by itself, or served alongside traditional accompaniments, such as milk, orange slices, or lemon.North America
United States of America
The concept of tea was introduced to the U.S. by the Dutch in the mid-1640s. It was known as the First Amsterdam drink and has evolved into various flavors. Since China had invented the idea of tea, the U.S. only began learning of their methods when the Dutch brought it over during trade.East Asia
China
In the Tang dynasty, tea was flavored to counteract the bitter taste. Ginger was favored among tea drinkers, in addition to onion, orange peel, cloves, and peppermint.Japan
In Japan, it is called Shōgayu.Korea
In Korea, ginger tea is called saenggang-cha. It can be made either by boiling fresh ginger slices in water or mixing ginger juice with hot water. Sliced ginger preserved in honey, called saenggang-cheong, can also be mixed with hot water to make ginger tea. Nowadays, powdered instant versions are also widely available. The tea is often served with a garnish of jujubes and pine nuts. When using fresh ginger, the tea can be sweetened with honey, sugar, or other sweeteners according to taste. Garlic, jujubes, and pear are sometimes boiled along with ginger.Southeast Asia
Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore
In Bruneian, Malaysian and Singaporean cuisines, ginger tea is generally called teh halia. It is not a pure ginger tea, as it is brewed of strong sweetened black tea, ginger rhizome, sugar with milk or condensed milk.Indonesia
In Indonesia, it is called teh jahe. In Java, a local version of ginger tea enriched with palm sugar and spices called wedang jahe is more popular.Wedang Jahe is a type of Indonesian ginger tea. Wedang in Javanese means "hot beverage" while jahe means "ginger". Although devoid of any caffeine content, it is often served and enjoyed as an invigorating tea. It is made from the ginger rhizome, usually fresh and cut in thin slices, and palm sugar or granulated cane sugar, frequently with the addition of fragrant pandan leaves. Palm sugar can be substituted with brown sugar or honey. People traditionally tend to add spices such as lemongrass, cloves, and cinnamon sticks.
Milk, either fresh or condensed, might be added.
Philippines
In the Philippines, it is called salabat and is traditionally made simply with peeled and thinly sliced or crushed raw ginger boiled for a few minutes in water. Sugar, honey, and calamansi are added for taste, along with other flavoring ingredients as desired. Modern versions can also use ground ginger powder added to hot boiling water. Native ginger varieties are preferred, as they are regarded as being more pungent than imported varieties.Salabat is typically served in the relatively cold month of December. Along with tsokolate, it is usually paired with various native rice cakes like bibingka or puto bumbong. Salabat is traditionally sold by early morning street vendors during the Simbang Gabi of the Christmas season.
Salabat is also widely consumed as a throat-soothing remedy for cough, sore throat, and common colds. Drinking salabat is believed to improve a person's singing voice.
A variant of salabat that exclusively or partially use turmeric is known as dulaw, duwaw, or duyaw in the Visayas and Mindanao islands; and tsaang dilaw in Filipino.
South Asia
India
In India, ginger tea is known as adrak ki chai and is a widely consumed beverage. It is made by grating ginger into brewed black tea along with milk and sugar.Another common version is ginger lemon tea, prepared by adding ginger root to tepid lemon juice. Masala chai is often brewed by adding spices and ginger root to tea leaves, milk, and sugar.
The beverage has also been acknowledged as having several key health benefits including boosting immunity, relieving nausea and reducing inflammation. During the Tang Dynasty, tea was flavored to counteract the bitter taste. Ginger was a favorite among tea drinkers, along with onions, orange peel, cloves, and mint.