February 6, 2024

The height of cold and flu season is here. With this in mind, let me offer you cold weather comfort with this beverage. Whether or not you feel puny, this warming cup soothes the soul .

Inspiration for green tea doctored with homemade ginger shrub came from recent articles about the herbal remedy called fire cider. This astringent drink is packed with herbs and fruits in a pure apple cider base. Although my tea is more palatable, the ginger shrub base is multipurpose. Use a couple tablespoons in seltzer, your favorite cocktail or in mocktails.

Everyone knows that warm beverages soothe a sore, scratchy throat  and ginger tea is especially calming. Ginger Shrub Green Tea is a kiss of comfort when hot; equally refreshing, pour it over ice for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Fruit shrubs keep in the fridge for weeks and their versatility warrants taking up valuable  refrigerator real estate. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant. Decaffeinated tea is just as beneficial. You can check here and here  for plastic-free and compostable tea bags.

strain out the ginger once the shrub reaches your desired intensity

I hope you stay well and healthy this winter.

Ginger Shrub Green Tea

recipe by Michele Humlan, The Good Eats Company

ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup pure apple cider vinegar
heaping ½ cup fine chopped fresh ginger (no need to peel)
green tea bags, regular or decaffeinated

directions 

1. At least one and a half weeks ahead, make the shrub.
2. Place sugar and vinegar in heavy small nonreactive pot and stir over medium low heat until the sugar is melted.
3. Add fresh ginger, stir, and refrigerate in glass jar at least one and a half weeks, longer for more assertive flavor.
4. Strain the shrub and consider  keeping the ginger bits in the fridge for another use (to flavor other beverages, for example).
5. The ginger shrub will keep in the refrigerator for weeks as long as clean implements are used to portion out the liquid.
6. Use the shrub to flavor seltzer, cocktails and mocktails.
7. For tea, steep green tea with hot water for three minutes and pour this over 1-2 tablespoons ginger shrub in the cup; experiment to see how strong and sweet you like your tea.