I’m feeling particularly nostalgic at the end of this year, mainly because it was our first full year of parenting. This year Adriana blossomed from a 3 month old baby in January into a 15 month old hilarious, chatty, and very strong-willed toddler by December. The change!!! We witnessed first words, first crawls, first teeth, and first steps in 2015. My iphone filled capacity countless times (breathe…), but I still worried that I wasn’t capturing enough. The sheer amount of development, growth, and experiences that we’ve shared together in 2015 are enough to make my eyes well up with tears. Even though I know there were tough times in every area of life, right now I’m reflecting through rose coloured glasses. I hope the memories will stay a part of me in one way or another, even if I wasn’t so great at documenting everything like I did in the early months.
Like every year, I consumed more than my fair share of treats this month. After we got home from visiting family, I found myself at the grocery store stuffing my cart with produce galore and planning homemade plant-heavy meals in an effort to bring back the balance. The great thing about plant-based eating is that it only takes a day or two to get back on track and feel energized once again. I’m not someone who shuns sweets entirely at the start of a year (I love my dark chocolate way too much), but instead prefer to focus on what I’m adding to my diet. Celebrate that stuff!
I love, love, love experimenting with homemade hot tonics, and I’ve been tweaking my favourite concoctions for a few years now. I know anything detox is so cliche this time of the year, but this drink really does make me feel amazing after weeks of indulgences so I don’t even care. In the past, I’ve often used fresh turmeric, fresh ginger, cayenne, and sliced lemon (see my “Healing rooibos tea” on page 69 of The Oh She Glows Cookbook), which is awesome, but it requires a trip to the grocery store, and finding fresh turmeric can be hit or miss. Recipes need to be accessible so I came up with this delicious “pantry” version for those times when I want it now. It’s fast, there’s no grating/peeling involved (unless you opt for the fresh ginger version), and you can keep the ingredients on hand in your pantry (aside from the lemon, but I usually have those miracle workers on hand!) to enjoy any time the craving strikes. Yes, you will crave this drink…it’s that good. I know this is going to be my reset button drink all winter long.
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Hot Detox Tonic
Yield
2 cups (500 mL)
Soak time
7-8 minutes
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Get ready to feel warm, energized, and ready to tackle the day! This is my new go-to hot beverage of choice when I want to hit the reset button, amp up my metabolism, and boost circulation. It comes together fast with ingredients that I tend to keep on hand. I love to drink this throughout the day, but it’s especially effective when consumed on an empty stomach after waking. I use a ginger tea bag for a quick option, but I provide a fresh ginger option below too. Also, if you ever have some kicking around, fresh mint is an invigorating, tummy-soothing addition.
Ingredients
- 1 ginger tea bag or 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger*
- 2 cups (500 mL) boiling water
- Few dashes cinnamon, to taste**
- Few dashes ground turmeric, to taste
- Few dashes cayenne pepper, to taste (use less if you don’t like heat)
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) apple cider vinegar
- 1 small lemon slice
- Pure maple syrup, to taste (I use 1 teaspoon/5 mL)
Directions
- Grab an extra large mug or a small teapot (3-cup capacity). Place ginger tea bag inside.
- Boil 2 cups of water and pour all the water into the mug/teapot. Cover and steep the ginger tea for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Remove tea bag. Set aside the tea bag to cool. Once the tea bag has cooled a bit you can gently squeeze it into the pot to infuse the tea with even more ginger flavour.
- Add the cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne. Whisk until combined.
- Add the vinegar and drop in the lemon wedge. Whisk to infuse the lemon.
- Add maple syrup to taste, and whisk to combine.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tip:
- * For the fresh ginger version: Pop the fresh grated ginger into a tea ball or mesh tea steeper, and steep tea for about 6 to 7 minutes. Proceed as usual.
- ** The spices tend to settle at the bottom of the mug/pot. Simply whisk it now and then to redistribute.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
I’d like to wish you all a New Year filled with happiness, health, love, and your wildest dreams becoming reality! Thank you for all your support, comments, love, and encouragement in 2015. I can’t wait to share the fun things we have coming up in 2016.
Angela
How amazing to watch your daughter grow :) I’m 5 months pregnant and I just can’t wait to watch my little one grow and learn and become their own person! As for the tonic, it looks so lovely and warming! I’ll be trying it :)
Hi,
Can you tell me what the detox tea is go for. Would like to try it
I’m allergic to ginger – fresh is out and I wouldn’t chance the tea bag. But it’s in sooo many recipes like this – and I understand why, it is really good for you. But for me and others like me; what are good alternatives? Something with close to the same benefits that could be subbed. I was thinking maybe cinnamon tea and leave out the fresh cinnamon but maybe there are other things out there that are also beneficial and would work just as well.
Perhaps try some fresh apple. You will still get a kick from the cayenne and apple cider vinegar but the apple will complement these flavors well xx
Just tried this tea for the first time and love it. I will be drinking this regularly, I didn’t have any fresh lemons, so I took some lemon juice I have frozen and just dunked it in the hot tea for a few seconds and it worked great.
I LOVE Ginger tee. This looks wonderful (also, that tea pot is adorable).
*tea :)
Yum! Thank you. Looking forward to it!
Nice! I have a jar of turmeric that is destined for this, and just bought a huge hunk of fresh ginger from Whole Paycheck last night! Thanks for the lovely idea…Happy New Year!!
I was so glad I had all the ingredients when I saw your recipe. It’s very flavourful, complex and refreshing. Reminiscent of an early summer morning. Thank you!!
Oh I swear that combo of lemon, ginger and cayenne is addictive! I had a very similar but cool and refreshing version yesterday morning with breakfast. So good to start the day with!
I sooo need this. love it when I find a recipe and have everything on hand. will be waking up to this in the morning and starting 2016 off right. thank you for the recipie and thank you for sharing your “gift” with us. I prepare a lot of your recipies for my family and friends. they are always big hits and asked for again and again. happy 2016 ❤️
That looks fantastic. It’s currently summer where I am (and scorching hot) – would it contain the same goodness, if I made it as ice tea?
Mmm this sounds so good Ange! I love ginger and turmeric, so this has my name written all over it. Wishing you and the family a super Happy New Year! xo
Looks great! How much is a dash? Would that be a couple of pinches? 1/8 tsp? Thanks! Happy New Year!
Dear Angela, Happy New Year! thank you for your excellent article on My Favourite Hot Detox Tonic. By the way, I wish you could add video in this article but the images were awesome. Keep the great writing skill up. Thanks again for giving me a good resource. Waiting for your reply!
Hi there! Happy New Year!
I stumbled upon your blog recently and have tried a few of your recipes (Endurance crackers, cherry energy bites, chick pea salad… all excellent!). And I just tried this hot drink this afternoon with a full tablespoon of fresh ginger. Warm, spicy and soothing! My kind of post-Holidays drink! :)
I’m not vegan but I appreciate plant-based recipes. Thank you for all the ideas!
Kathy
Your nostalgia over Adriana’s growth this year is too precious. They grow up so quickly, don’t they? I bet you can’t wait to see what this year has in store for your little one!
This tonic was just what I needed! I’m getting over a cold at the moment, and this, coupled with your tomato soup, warmed me right to the bone. I only had fresh ginger and not ginger tea, which I think I preferred as I could make it as spicy as I wanted! ;)
This is so fantastic! I rarely drink these kinds of detox tonics, but all the ingredients in here resonated with me so much that I wanted to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did! I definitely foresee this becoming a winter staple for me, so thank you!
I love hot tonics like this, and this combination sounds just perfect! I feel like my body is almost craving turmeric this time of year… The best thing for feeling energised during the colder months! Wishing you a healthy and happy 2016 :)
Just made a small teapot full. Loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
I am new here and loving what i see. Will start with the tea. Sounds good! How do i get the book?