The Best Organic Ginger Teas for Healthy Living
There’s nothing like a fresh, invigorating start to your day and a cup of ginger tea will give you just that with its subtle spice.
If you love any and all things ginger, this is the place to be. Chances are you've tried ginger tea in the past, but if you haven't, let's learn a little more about ginger tea.
Ginger tea can be made using the fresh ginger root, dried ginger, loose ginger pieces, or ginger tea bags and boiling or hot water. It has the bonus of doubling up as a sleep tonic, since it naturally contains no caffeine.
Whether you're making fresh ginger tea or using herbal tea bags, you'll want to steep teas in hot water (just under boiling, in my opinion!) for a few minutes before taking your first stip.
For a sweet touch, add a drizzle of honey – or add a squeeze of lemon for extra flavor and a little vitamin c, particularly if you’re drinking it as part of your bedtime ritual.
While it does not make you tired, it can soothe you after a hectic day. Take care that your ginger tea has not been mixed with black or green tea, as these blends contain caffeine.
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The History of Ginger Tea
Ginger comes from the flowering plant Zingiber officinale, native to Asia, and is part of the Zingiberaceae family, which includes cardamom and turmeric.
Ginger has a long history of use that dates back some 5,000 years ago to China where the root’s many healing properties made it popular as a health tonic.
It was also used as an elixir to ward off evil spirits. From ginger wine to ginger tea, the root became so sought after and the demand so high that its cost per pound surpassed that of a sheep.
Its popularity saw it make its way to Europe, where it was introduced as a culinary spice.
These days it remains popular and lifts the flavor of many dishes as well as being the hero ingredient: think curries, stir-fries, muffins, gingerbread, ginger beer and, of course, ginger tea.
Health Benefits of Ginger Tea
Besides kickstarting your day or winding it down, ginger tea has many health benefits.
Ginger contains compounds known as gingerols and shogaols which can have antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Both fresh and dried pure ginger tea are beneficial: while fresh ginger has higher amounts of gingerol, dried ginger has increased levels of shogaols.
Drinking ginger tea may help with digestive system issues: morning sickness, soothing an upset stomach, reducing bloating and cramping, and preventing flatulence.
Additionally, it is sometimes used to reduce nausea and vomiting from pregnancy, chemotherapy, and motion sickness.
The benefits don’t stop with healthy digestion. It may also provide relief from constipation, headache, and sore throat, while easing congestion.
It has even been shown to be more effective against the bacteria that cause strep throat than some antibiotics.
Ginger tea is a great product to help promote a healthy immune system, because as we all know, health starts from within. That's why ginger tea's anti-inflammatory properties are so important!
As with many foodstuffs, there are always precautions to take, especially if you're considering medicinal uses.
Despite the benefits to those who are pregnant or undergoing chemotherapy, it is still best to consult a healthcare professional.
Its use should also be moderated when taking blood thinning medication. Once you’re ready for your cuppa, you may want to consider choosing an organic variety.
Organic vs. Conventional Ginger Tea
While organic certification can guide you while shopping, organic products can still be grown and produced without certification.
The key is to follow the guiding principles of organic farming and production, which aim to deliver a product that is safer for you and the environment. That research will yield the best results when hunting down the qualities of ginger you want for your cup of tea.
If a brand doesn’t carry certification, make inquiries about how their tea is grown and manufactured:
are they non-GMO? Do they prohibit the use of harmful pesticides and synthetic fertilizers? Are they committed to working in tandem with the surrounding environment, maintaining soil health and preventing pollution of nearby water sources?
Bear in mind that heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can still contaminate the air, water, and soil on organic farms, although these levels tend to be lower than in conventional products.
Another thing to keep in mind is that natural and organic are not the same thing and the former term is not regulated.
The word natural usually refers to a lack of added coloring, scents, and flavors. Furthermore, heavy metals are actually natural compounds and many occur naturally in food (such as cadmium), so it’s an especially tricky word to navigate.
5 Organic Ginger Tea Brands to Try
Find the best ginger tea for your palate by trying these 5 organic tea brands. I love each of these tea brands, and often add a little bit of honey to my cup for my taste buds and my happiness!
The Republic of Tea: A Unique Variety of Organic Ginger Teas
For a range of ginger teas, The Republic of Tea is your go-to.
They offer a variety of tea blends including ginger mint herbal tea, pineapple ginger green tea, and ginger peach chocolate truffle black tea, which are some personal favorites. They also have pure ginger tea made with biodynamic organic ginger root.
Their teas are quality tested before shipping and again upon arrival at the packaging facility.
The Republic of Tea’s unbleached tea bags are free of superfluous details like envelopes, strings, tags, and staples.
For the tea aficionado, there’s a variety of teapots and brewing accessories to choose from. This tea paraphernalia also undergoes quality and safety testing, including tests for safe harbor levels of lead and cadmium.
The Republic of Tea’s organic ginger teas can be purchased for around $11-$35 depending on the type and quantity.
Tielka’s Organic Lemon Ginger Tea
Using fresh, organic ingredients, Tielka is an Australian brand committed to sustainable business practices and ethical sourcing.
Certified organic with USDA and Australian Certified Organic, their teas, such as the lemon ginger tea, are available as loose-leaf and as organic ginger tea bags which are plant-based and plastic-free.
Tielka’s lemon ginger tea can be purchased for around $11-$32 depending on the type and quantity.
Choice Organics Ginger Tea in Plastic Free Tea Bags
Sourced exclusively from organic growers, Choice Organics offers a range of organic teas.
From earl grey and Darjeeling to chamomile, mint, and ginger, there’s something for every palate. Their organic mandarin ginger tea is a sweet and spicy herbal blend that is USDA certified.
The organic practices of the farmers they work with include natural pest control and organic fertilizers. Their LEED-certified tea plant in Eugene, Oregon carefully controls its use of water and energy, as well as its waste management.
Products are tested for chemicals and heavy metals. Their plastic-free tea bags are made from filtration paper composed of natural manila hemp fibers and wood pulp.
The filtration paper is oxygen bleached using a natural process that is free of toxins. Tea cartons are made from recycled and recyclable cardboard.
Choice Organics teas can be purchased for around $3-$15 depending on the type of tea and quantity.
Pique Life’s Organic Ginger Tea Crystals
Committed to health and wellness by blending the best of nature and science, Pique Life offers peach ginger black tea, ginger fasting green tea, and a ginger digestion elixir, amongst a range of other options.
Sourcing the finest loose-leaf grade tea leaves, Pique Life uses a cold brew crystallization method to make their tea crystals, a process that preserves up to 12 times the nutrition content, compared to other teas.
They also Triple Toxin Screen their teas for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold. All their teas are USDA Certified Organic.
Pique’s ginger teas can be purchased for $16-$58 depending on the type of tea.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Herbal Teas
Healing through the power of nature, Traditional Medicinals specializes in natural herbal remedies, particularly tea. These include their ginger teas, as well as blends of ginger and chamomile, ginger and lemon, and ginger and tulsi.
Most of their products are certified organic, just look out for the USDA logo on the packaging, and are tested for heavy metals and microbial contaminants.
Artificial flavors are not added, instead they rely on plants to balance the flavor profile by using complementary herbs. Tea bags are made from sustainably harvested manila hemp and FSC-certified wood pulp.
Peroxide and oxygen are used to bleach the bags instead of environmentally damaging chemicals like elemental chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, and chlorine gas.
Their ginger teas can be purchased for around $4-$15 depending on the type and amount.
How to Brew Ginger Tea
No matter which brand of ginger tea you choose, it’s always best to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Generally speaking, ginger tea can be brewed using either boiling water or cold water.
For a hot cup of tea, bring a pot of water to a full rolling boil and add 1-2 tsp of loose leaf tea per 8oz cup. Steep for 2-4 minutes, depending on desired strength.
For a cold brew, mix 1/2 tsp of loose leaf tea per cup of cold water and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours. The brewing time will depend on the type of ginger tea you are using so make sure to check the manufacturer's instructions.
You can add some extra flavor or spice to your ginger tea with fresh turmeric, honey, or other pantry staples.
Now that you know all about ginger tea, find the right blend for you and get sipping! With its health benefits and zesty flavor, it’s no wonder why ginger tea is so popular worldwide. Hopefully this guide has helped you find some of the best teas! Enjoy!
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