How to make Energy Drink with Ginger

Ginger root has been widely used in Asian cooking and medicine for thousands of years. It has a distinct spicy flavor that blends well with most kinds of vegetables and meat. Steeped in a tea it is often used by alternative medical practitioners as an anti-nauseate, anti-inflammatory and as a purifying tonic against colds and flu. Ginger's many beneficial health properties make it a perfect base for a revitalizing home made energy drink.

Things You'll Need

• Ginger root
• Knife
• Honey
• Lime
• Ginseng powder
• Mineral water

Instructions

1. Prepare ginger tea by peeling a 5-inch piece of the root and flattening it with a rolling pin or the bottom of a drinking glass. Place in a pot, cover with five to six cups of water and bring to a boil.

2. Sweeten with 1 tsp. of honey per cup of water as the tea is steeping. Also add a pinch of sea salt. Stir until the honey and salt are completely dissolved. After about five minutes of boiling, remove from the heat and let cool. Put it into the refrigerator to further infuse and cool.

3. Strain cooled tea through a fine mesh strainer into a glass pitcher, and add flavors and additional nutrients to the ginger tea base. To keep it simple, add 1 tsp. of ginseng powder for energy, some thinly sliced lime and 2 cups of mineral water for each cup of ginger tea. Stir well and keep refrigerated in a covered container for up to three days.

4. You can add various ingredients to your ginger tea base to personalize your energy drink and give it added taste and vitamins. Combine it with green tea for a boost in antioxidants or substitute your favorite fruit juices for the mineral water. Use all natural juice when possible. Pineapple goes great with ginger as do the citrus juices. Dissolve bee pollen or other energy and immunity-boosting ingredients in the energy drink and garnish it with fresh organic mint leaves or lemon slices. To sweeten it, add additional honey or more naturally sweet juices.The longer you store your energy drink in the refrigerator, the more the component flavors will fuse and intensify.

Tips & Warnings

• Diabetics should be careful with ginger as it may react badly with insulin and other medications.

References

• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: ginger