Honey tea is a tea made by sweetening and injecting honey. There are many types of honey and many types of tea. The possibilities for brewing the perfect honey tea are almost endless.
Ancient use of honey
Honey’s healing power is not a secret. It is said that it was used as an antibiotic ointment and digestif 8000 years ago, and some ancient civilizations have recorded the medicinal properties of honey.
Egyptians mainly used honey as a topical ointment to accelerate wound healing. Hieroglyphs and papyrus recipes circa 1700 BC. Shows how honey was used to protect surgical incisions from infection.
The Greeks mixed it with water and wine to create an elixir that aids digestion. It was also mixed with other herbs and powders to form a paste and applied to the eyes and ears to treat pain and infections.
According to Chinese herbal medicine, honey is a balanced substance (neither “warming” nor “cooling”) that can relieve indigestion, stomach ulcers and constipation. Honey and warm milk were also believed to relieve anxiety and insomnia.
Why add honey to tea?
Modern research confirms most of the suspicions of these ancient civilizations.
For example, many studies have found that the antibacterial properties of honey make it suitable for the treatment of cuts, abrasions and other wounds.
Many others have discovered that the phenolic compounds in honey actually help keep the digestive system healthy, and that a healthy gut is the key to a healthy immune system. The antioxidant content of
honey also helps protect cells from damage and more easily support the body’s ability to fight disease.
You may not want to follow the Ancients` lead and start applying honey directly to your skin or mixing it with wine, but drizzling some into tea is an easy and tasty way to reap honey`s health benefits.
Honey tea is also a great alternative to white table sugar and calorie-free sweeteners that offer little or no nutritional benefit, and also bring no unique flavor beyond sweetness.
But first, it`s useful to understand the differences between the many types of honey on the grocery shelves today, and how your choice can affect the flavor of your brew.
Benefits of honey tea
Often, it is a first aid to treat sore throat, relieve cough, boost the immune system and promote better sleep. Different honeys contain different compounds. All honey contains water, sugar, amino acids, minerals, phenolic compounds and other compounds.
Honey has the following advantages:
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Boosting Immune System
Studies have shown that honey may have powerful antioxidant properties. It can help the body fight viruses and bacteria by boosting the immune system. Recent studies suggest its potential use as an immune booster in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Antibacterial activity
Any honey can have antibacterial properties, but manuka honey is the most common method for treating bacterial infections.
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Anti-Inflammatory effect
The anti-inflammatory properties of honey have been known for centuries. Topical application of honey can help treat wounds and burns and promote tissue repair.
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Sore throat remedy
Raw honey, freshly squeezed ginger, lemon juice mixed with a small amount of water or warm ginger honey lemon tea are two of the most popular treatments for sore throat and cough. Honey is often the first aid in treating sore throat at home and is essential with hot tea to relieve the symptoms of a cold.
Best teas to pair with honey
If you like sweet tea, honey can make every cup of tea better. Earl Grey tea or citrus tea tastes great with a teaspoon of bergamot honey or orange flower honey. Roasted oolong tea goes well with a small amount of avocado honey.
