Beef Free Green Tea with Lemon Balm and Ginger
This soothing herbal brew is the kind of drink that makes you slow down and actually enjoy a quiet moment. Fresh lemon balm brings a gentle citrusy calm to the cup, while thinly sliced ginger adds just enough warmth and spice to keep things interesting. The green tea steeps at a carefully controlled temperature — pulled just off the boil — so you get a clear, pale gold liquor that's smooth and never bitter. A touch of raw honey rounds everything out, and a squeeze of lemon juice lifts the whole thing if you're in the mood for a little brightness. It's the kind of recipe that feels almost meditative to make, from the soft simmer of ginger water to the moment you press the lemon balm leaves through the strainer. Naturally plant-based from start to finish, there's nothing here to second-guess — just clean, real ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 tsp loose-leaf green tea (or 2 green tea bags)
- ¼ cup fresh lemon balm leaves, lightly packed
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1–2 tsp raw honey, to taste
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the filtered water and sliced ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and let the temperature drop for 1–2 minutes until it is no longer at a rolling boil — green tea steeps best around 170–180°F (77–82°C) to avoid bitterness.
- 2
Add the green tea and fresh lemon balm leaves to the hot ginger water. Steep for 3–5 minutes, until the tea is a clear pale gold and the lemon balm aroma is noticeable. Do not steep longer than 5 minutes, as the green tea will turn bitter.
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