Honey Ginger Lemon Tea (with Whiskey)

This past week, my roommate came down with a cold and sore throat. Since I’m one minivan away from being a soccer mom, my parental instincts kicked in and I immediately brewed her a large batch of honey ginger lemon tea.

I’ve refined the recipe over the years, originally inspired by a crowd-favorite from the coffee shop I worked at in college. The ginger and cayenne pepper are a potent combination that helps clear the throat, and the honey soothes any urge to cough. The whiskey, of course, helps one to fall asleep, making it the perfect sick day nightcap.

Honey Ginger Lemon Tea (with Whiskey)

15 minutes. 2 servings

Ingredients

4 cup water

½ cup sugar

Juice of 2 lemons

1.5 inch of ginger (thumb-sized), peeled and minced

2 teaspoons honey

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Whiskey, to taste

Instructions

In a medium-sized pot, bring all ingredients to a boil, except for the whiskey. Once it begins to bubble vigorously, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes (longer if you want it really ginger-y). Serve hot, with a generous dash of whiskey if desired.