With a light citrus flavor, this lemongrass ginger tea feels like such a treat for a mid-morning snack! Easy to make, it's a caffeine free herbal tea that comes together in less than 15 minutes.
Do check out my ginger mocktail for another fun zingy drink!
Lemongrass (also known as citronella), ginger and rosemary are all packed with fragrant flavor, and this tea has the best aroma too! It joins my cardamom warm milk, iced rooibos tea and pomegranate tea as tasty caffeine free drinks that are the perfect swap for English breakfast tea or coffee. Have a peek at my low histamine teas and coffee alternatives for even more options!
Making this tea is very simple, has minimal ingredients and no complicated steps. But it feels quite special! You can also cool and serve as an iced lemongrass ginger tea.
This recipe was inspired by the ginger lemongrass tea by Greedy Girl Gourmet, but with some additions and variations.
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⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Fragrant flavor (and aroma!). Lemongrass has the most delightful citrus aroma, and will fill your kitchen with delicious scent.
Citrus free. If you're looking for low histamine recipes, you will likely want to be citrus free. Using lemongrass is a great option as it gives us a similar flavor, but without lemon. In fact, lemongrass and lemon aren't related!
Healthy! As Healthline describes in their overview of lemongrass, this plant has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
💭 Is lemongrass related to lemons?
Lemongrass is a perennial grass that grows in tropical climates, but isn't related to the lemons (Growing with Science). While it has a similar citrus flavor and aroma, it isn't lemon at all!
🍵 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Lemongrass - choose fresh lemongrass stalks for this tea, rather than dried tea leaves. You want to make sure the lemongrass isn't dried out as that means it is older.
- Ginger - we are using fresh ginger root for this tea, not ground ginger.
- Rosemary - just one small sprig brings an undertone of herbaceous flavor to the tea.
- Maple syrup - it's optional to include a sweetener, but I suggest using either maple syrup as a vegan option or honey if not.
📖 Swaps and variations
Add citrus. If you are good with citrus, you may like to add a small squeeze of lemon or lime juice (likely not my low histamine readers).
Leave out the ginger. Simply like the lemongrass flavor? Just omit the ginger!
Leave out the rosemary. Rosemary pairs so well with lemongrass, but you can easily leave it out if the herb flavor isn't for you.
💭 How to prepare lemongrass
Choose fresh lemongrass stalks without any browning, and that aren't dried out or slimy. It's typically best to remove the outer leaves unless you are able to source very fresh stalks and of course give them a good wash!
To make this tea, use a sharp knife to top and tail the stalks, then use a meat mallet or wooden spoon to pound them a little. This helps release the oils of the lemongrass.
🔪 How to make lemongrass tea
Making this lemongrass ginger tea is very simple, with just a few steps:
Step 1
Prepare the lemongrass stalks. Remove any dry outer leaves, and top and tail the stalks with a sharp knife. Use a meat mallet or wooden spoon to pound the lemongrass a little, then dice into small pieces (image 1).
Step 2
Combine the tea ingredients. Pour the water into a large pot and add the lemongrass stalks, rosemary sprig and sliced ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a very light simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Step 3
Strain the ginger lemongrass tea. Take the tea off the heat and stir in the maple syrup or honey, if using. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the lemongrass and ginger, then pour into your glasses or cups.
You can also use a small strainer and place over your glass if you have one. Be careful not to spill as the tea is hot though!
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Make sure to give the lemongrass a pound with the back of a wooden spoon or meat mallet to release the oils.
- If you like a stronger flavor, steep the tea for longer.
- Don't forget to strain the tea! Use a fine mesh sieve or tea strainer over your glasses or cups to remove the cooked lemongrass, rosemary and ginger.
📋 Frequently asked questions
Lemongrass has a fragrant and light citrus flavor, with a hint of mint.
Yes, lemongrass tea is caffeine free.
Allow the tea to cool, then pour into your glasses or pitcher and add some ice cubes!
☕ More tasty drinks
From smoothies to mocktails to warm milks, find so many tasty ideas here on my drinks page including my popular apple ginger turmeric juice and apple pear smoothie. Some cozy warm drinks to enjoy:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Lemongrass Ginger Tea
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lemongrass (about 1.5 stalks)
- 2 slices fresh ginger root
- 1 small rosemary sprig
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- If required, peel off any drier outer layers of the lemongrass and slice off the tough end. Use a meat mallet or wooden spoon to pound the stalks a little, then dice into small pieces.
- Pour hot water into a pot and add in the lemongrass, ginger slices and rosemary. Increase the heat to boil, then reduce to a very light simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the maple syrup.
- Strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or jug, or alternatively place a small sieve over your serving glasses. Discard the lemongrass, ginger and rosemary pieces left in the sieve.
Notes
- Be sure to pound the lemongrass stalks a little as this helps release the fragrant oils.
- If you like a stronger flavor, you can either add more lemongrass, ginger or rosemary to the pot or heat for a few minutes longer.
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- lemongrass isn't rated but is low histamine on other lists. Note that lemon and lemongrass are not related.
- ginger, which scores 1.
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