This té de jengibre (ginger tea) is one of our favorite Dominican Christmas traditions when temperatures drop, and even here in the Caribbean, we can enjoy a hot drink. Easy, quick to make, comforting, and inexpensive, this is a must-have to receive guests and treat carolers.
Why we ❤️ it
When I worked in an office in Santo Domingo the conserje would do the rounds every morning with a tray rattling with mugs of real té de jengibre -- fresh ginger tea -- that she brewed herself using and fresh ginger root.
Apart from requesting a reduced sugar version, I was an instant convert and soon became addicted to this delicious beverage, which is reputed to have beneficial effects. I can also testify to its efficiency as a much-needed mid-morning pick-me-up.
Dominican tea traditions
Ginger tea is a popular traditional Dominican drink, and is also part of the Christmas caroling tradition (villancicos) and served to revelers as an alternative to the traditional shot of rum. This ginger tea recipe is also a folk remedy, and among the purported health benefits of ginger tea, it is used to aid digestion, and to relieve nausea, upset stomachs, and morning sickness during pregnancy.
Another refreshing Dominican tea is limoncillo or lemongrass tea, made with the leaves of the lemongrass plant that grows abundantly in the countryside here. As its name suggests, it has a lemony flavor, and like ginger tea, it is believed to be good for the digestive system.
Another popular tisane is tisana de limón, made with honey and lime leaves, and drunk to help with cold symptoms, hence very popular during the cooler months season.
Ginger tea.
Serving suggestions
You can serve te de jengibre with any of our favorite Dominican cookies, like coconetes, mantecaditos, deditos de novia or Danish Christmas butter cookies. Guava and cheese empanadas, and empanaditas dulces are even better when served with a steaming cup of freshly brewed te de jengibre.
For a non-traditional touch, serve with Christmas ginger cookies, or Sour cream pound cake.
Top tips
- We prefer ginger tea without sugar, or very low on sugar. For this recipe, we've left the options open for you, and made some suggestions that you can try and see which you prefer.
- Some people add star anise to their ginger tea. You can try adding a couple when you boil the cinnamon and see if you like it.
About this recipe
One thing we notice is that however simple this recipe is, everyone's té de jengibre tends to have a different level of spiciness, color, and sweetness. You may have to experiment a bit if you want to come up with the exact ginger tea you prefer.
Let us know in the comment if you make your te de jengibre differently.
Salud!
Video
Recipe
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Té de Jengibre [Recipe + Video] Fresh Ginger Tea
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh ginger root, cut into slices
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- sugar (white, granulated), sweetener, or honey, to taste
Instructions
Boiling
Boil the cinnamon sticks in 8 cups of water until the water is lightly colored. Remove the cinnamon.Add the sliced ginger roots and boil for 5 minutes.
Serving
- Remove the ginger and add sugar to taste.Serve hot with cookies of your preference.
Tips and Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.
FAQs
Traditionally, ginger tea is used to aid digestion, relieve nausea, help with upset stomachs, and decrease morning sickness during pregnancy.
Ginger tea is traditionally served as a morning drink, but it can be also served any time of the day.
Published Jan 2, 2005, revised
