Description
Flu/Cold Tea Bombs are potent, immune-boosting frozen tea concentrates made from a blend of lemon, ginger, garlic, turmeric, honey, and spices. Simply drop one into hot water for a soothing, warming drink that helps fight colds and flu.
Ingredients
Scale
2 whole lemons (peeled)
2 large bunches of fresh ginger
1 whole head of garlic
2 tablespoons turmeric
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 ½ tablespoons cayenne pepper (optional, adjust for spice preference)
½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar (ACV)
1 ½ tablespoons honey (or substitute with maple syrup/agave for vegan option)
3 cups water
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients:
- Peel the lemons and chop them into smaller pieces to make blending easier.
- Peel and chop the fresh ginger into chunks.
- Separate and peel the garlic cloves from the whole head.
- Blend:
- In a high-speed blender, combine the peeled lemons, ginger, garlic, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, cayenne pepper (if using), apple cider vinegar, honey, and water.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Strain:
- Using a fine mesh sieve or, preferably, a cheesecloth, strain the mixture to remove the pulp and solids, leaving you with a smooth liquid.
- Discard the solids or compost them.
- Freeze:
- Pour the strained liquid into a silicone muffin tray or ice cube tray. Each portion should be about 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons).
- Freeze until solid, about 4-6 hours or overnight.
- Store:
- Once frozen, remove the tea bombs from the tray and transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Use Cheesecloth for Straining:
- As you mentioned, using a cheesecloth instead of a mesh sieve will help remove more sediment, leaving a cleaner liquid for your tea bombs.
- Customizing the Spice Level:
- Adjust the cayenne pepper based on your spice preference. If making for kids or those sensitive to heat, you can reduce or omit the cayenne entirely.
- Honey Substitutes:
- If you’re vegan or prefer another sweetener, maple syrup or agave can work as substitutes for honey.
- Portion Control:
- Each frozen portion is around 1/8 cup, so you can customize your tea’s strength by using more or less of the bomb when dissolving in hot water.
- Silicone Muffin Tray:
- Using silicone trays helps in easy removal. You can also use ice cube trays for smaller portions if you’d like to control the intensity more easily.
- Storage:
- After freezing, transfer the bombs to an airtight container or freezer bag for long-term storage. This keeps them fresh and ready for use anytime.
- Drink Add-ins:
- You can also add a splash of extra honey or a slice of fresh lemon when making the tea to customize the flavor to your liking.