Turmeric Free Green Tea with Lemon Balm and Ginger
So many wellness teas and herbal blends lean heavily on golden spices, which makes finding a soothing, flavorful cup a real challenge when you need to avoid them. This brew sidesteps that entirely, building its warmth and complexity from fresh ginger, fragrant lemon balm, and delicate green tea instead. The result is a pale gold, aromatic drink that feels genuinely restorative — bright and herbal with a gentle heat that lingers in the best way. Steeping the green tea at a lower temperature is the key move here, keeping the flavor clean and smooth rather than sharp or astringent. A drizzle of raw honey rounds everything out, and a small squeeze of lemon juice at the end lifts the whole cup with a little citrus brightness. It comes together in under ten minutes and uses ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, making it a go-to for slow mornings or winding down at night.
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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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