5 Different Takes On Your Good Ol' Lemon Tea

The bright and juicy lemon is scientifically termed Citrus limon and known as Nimbu in Hindi, Elumichchaipazham in Tamil and Nimmakaya in Telugu. The tangy taste of lemon is the perfect accompaniment to the sublime flavour of a subtle red or black tea. It is a deceptively simple recipe, and as deceptively simple recipes go, it is an easy one to ruin too.

Besides adding a piquant flavour and aroma to traditional Indian dishes, lemons also confer innumerable benefits for human health, such as eliminating kidney stones, refining skin texture and hydrating the body.

If you’re looking for an easy lemon tea recipes to enjoy that perfect cup of tea on a balmy evening, our tried and tested recipes might just help you. 

1. Lemon Black Tea with Cinnamon

Ingredients

• Water 6 cups
• Black tea 1 tbsp
• Sugar to taste
• Cinnamon 1 stick
• Lemon 1, thinly sliced. Extra for garnish

How to make it?

1. Take a large teapot. Add the tea leaves, cinnamon stick, and lemon slices to it.
2. Pour hot water over the ingredients.
3. Leave aside for five minutes to steep.
4. Strain and serve with lemon slices for garnish.

Image Courtesy: Freepik

2. Russian Lemon Black Tea

Ingredients

• Water 3 cups
• Black tea 1 tbsp
• Lemon wedges 12
• Sugar to taste

How to make it?

1. Warm the teapot with a little hot water. 
2. Place the tea leaves in the pot. Pour hot water and set aside to steep, for 4-5 minutes.
3. To serve, place two lemon wedges inside each cup. Fill half the cup with the tea from the pot, and the rest with warm water.
4. Sweeten with sugar.

Image Courtesy: Culture Trip

3. The Sulaimani

Ingredients

• Water 6 cups
• Black tea 2 tsp
• Cardamom 4 pods
• Cinnamon 2 one-inch pieces
• Lime juice 4 tsp
• Saffron, a few strands
• Sugar, to taste 

How to make it?

1. First, crush the cardamom and cinnamon with a mortar and pestle. Add these to the water and heat.
2. Once the water boils, pour it over the tea leaves.
3. Steep for one minute.
4. Add lime juice and saffron and stir.
5. Pour in cups. Add sugar or honey to taste.

Image Courtesy: Pardesi Trotter

4. Hot Honey Lemon Tea

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of lemon juice
•  
  2 tablespoons (30 mL) of honey
•  
  1 cup (240 mL) of hot water
•  
  1 black tea bag
•  
  Slice of lemon for garnish (optional)

How to make it?

1. Bring 1 cup (240 mL) of water to a boil and put it into a mug.
2. Steep a black tea bag in the hot water for 3-4 minutes. After the tea has steeped, remove the bag from the mug. 
3. Stir honey and lemon juice into the hot water. Use 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of honey and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of lemon juice.
4. Add a fresh slice of lemon to the mug for an additional garnish. 
5. Enjoy your hot honey lemon tea, but be careful to not burn yourself! 
   

Image Courtesy: NPR

5. Iced Lemon Tea

Ingredients

• 4 cups (950 mL) of hot water
• 1 cup (200 grams) of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) of baking soda
• 10 black tea bags
• 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup (120 to 180 mL) of lemon juice
• 4 cups (950 mL) of ice
• Slices of lemon for garnish (optional)

How to make it?

1. Boil 4 cups (950 mL) of water and pour them into a heatproof pitcher.
2. Stir the sugar and baking soda into the hot water until they’ve dissolved. Use 1 cup (200 grams) of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) of baking soda.
3. Steep 10 black tea bags in the pitcher for 10 minutes. If you’re using regular single-serving tea bags, use 10.
4. After the 10 minutes have passed, carefully spoon the bags up out of the pitcher.
5. Juice 6 lemons into the pitcher and stir the tea. If you don’t have fresh lemons, use about 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup (120 to 180 mL) of lemon juice.
6. Add 4 cups (950 mL) of ice and refrigerate the tea until it gets cool. 

Image Courtesy: Best Health Magazine

Here are a couple of ways which would help you modify the taste of  your lemon tea to next level.

• Grate some fresh ginger into your hot lemon tea for added benefits. About 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fresh ginger should be enough to impart its flavor and give you digestive and soothing benefits, but of course, feel free to modify the amount to your personal tastes.

• Enjoy a hot today by adding whiskey to your hot lemon tea. Add 2 fluid ounces (59 mL) of whiskey to your already-made lemon tea. Stir the mixture with a spoon to disperse the alcohol so it isn't left floating at the top of the mug.

Image Courtesy: Irish Central 

• Take your tea to the next level by adding a sprinkle of dried spice. Cinnamon, cardamom, clove, star anise, or even chili powder would give your tea an additional warming element. Simply stir a pinch, or about 1/4 teaspoon (.5 grams), of the chosen spice into your tea and enjoy.

• Make a flavored simple syrup to infuse your tea with a new essence. Mint or raspberry are great flavors that will complement the lemon in your hot or iced tea. Heat up 1 cup (200 grams) of white sugar and 1 cup (240 mL) of water, and simmer them together until the sugar dissolves, which takes about 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in either 1 cup (25 grams) of mint leaves or 1 cup (125 grams) of fresh raspberries. Let them steep for 30 minutes, then strain the liquid into a glass jar to use in your tea.

• Add soda water to make a sparkling iced tea. Simply fill your glass partially with iced tea and top off the rest with soda water. The more soda water you use, the more carbonated your tea will be. Feel free to use plain soda water or flavored.

Lemon tea is inherently a treasure trove of nutrition and enhances stomach, liver, heart and skin health. Incorporate it into your regular diet, adding a dash of mint essence or a pinch of cinnamon powder, for that extra zest and aroma as well as to reap its wonderful health benefits.