Ginger tea to go: recipe with fresh ginger for the thermos bottle
Ginger tea to go is the perfect drink for cold days for many people: spicy, pleasantly hot and quick to make. Instead of tea bags from a packet, you use fresh root, brew it at home and pour the finished tea into your thermos bottle. That way you have it hot with you in the office, on a walk or after the sauna. Here you get a simple basic recipe for 500 ml, variations to try and tips so that the tea does not become too fiery on the go.
Contents10
- Why fresh ginger instead of tea bags?
- Basic recipe: ginger tea to go for 500 ml
- Why straining is so important
- Variations to try
- Little time in the morning? How to prepare ahead
- The right bottle for on the go
- When and where the tea fits well
- After drinking: clean the bottle promptly
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why fresh ginger instead of tea bags?
Dried ginger in a tea bag is practical but often tastes flatter. Fresh root brings more aroma, a clear heat and a slightly lemony note. You also decide for yourself how strong the tea becomes: more slices and a longer steeping time for those who love the heat, fewer for a mild companion through the day.
An advantage for on the go: because you strain the tea at home, nothing keeps steeping in the bottle. The flavour stays exactly as you set it for hours.
Basic recipe: ginger tea to go for 500 ml
For a 500 ml bottle you only need a few ingredients.
| Ingredient | Amount for 500 ml | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh ginger | approx. 20–30 g (a thumb-sized piece) | use less for a milder tea |
| Water | approx. 550 ml | a little more, because some is lost when straining |
| Lemon (optional) | 1–2 slices or a squeeze of juice | adds freshness |
| Honey or syrup (optional) | 1–2 teaspoons | to taste, use sparingly |
As a rule of thumb, Öko-Test suggests about 10 to 15 grams of fresh ginger per cup. For a 500 ml bottle, i.e. about two large cups, that comes to around 20 to 30 grams.
Preparation step by step
- Wash: Wash the root thoroughly, ideally with a vegetable brush.
- Slice: Cut into thin slices – just before you pour the water over, so the aroma stays fresh. For more heat you can also grate it finely.
- Pour over: Put the slices into a teapot or a large pan and pour hot water over them.
- Let it steep: Let it steep for at least ten minutes, covered so the heat stays in. If you like it stronger, wait longer.
- Prepare the bottle: Meanwhile, briefly swirl the thermos bottle out with hot water.
- Strain: Pour the tea through a sieve so that no pieces get into the bottle.
- Refine and fill: Stir in lemon and sweetener as you like, then carefully pour into the bottle and close tightly.
Peel or not?
According to the German Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE), which Öko-Test refers to, the skin is edible and does not have to be removed. With older roots, however, it can taste bitter. If you want to leave the skin on, choose organic produce and wash it thoroughly. Otherwise it is easy to scrape off with a teaspoon.
Why straining is so important
If the slices stay in the bottle, the tea keeps steeping all day. After a few hours it is then often much hotter than planned and can turn bitter. You also have trouble getting the pieces back out through the opening, and they make cleaning harder. That is why the same applies to ginger tea to go as to any tea in an insulated bottle: steep it fully first, then strain, then fill.
Variations to try
- Ginger and lemon: The classic. Let two lemon slices steep with it or add a squeeze of juice after straining.
- Ginger and orange: A piece of (untreated) orange peel and a little juice give a mild, fruity note.
- Ginger and mint: Let a few leaves of fresh mint steep with it for the last few minutes.
- Ginger and cinnamon: Let a cinnamon stick steep with it – a good fit for Advent.
- With herbal tea: Brew a bag of camomile or rooibos together with the slices and take the bag out after the stated steeping time.
With sugar or honey: better go easy. Sweetened drinks tend to leave residues in the bottle, and the ginger’s own flavour often comes through better unsweetened.
Little time in the morning? How to prepare ahead
If you have to leave the house quickly in the morning, you can shift part of the work to the evening before. Slice the root in the evening and keep it in a closed container in the fridge. In the morning you then only need to boil water, pour it over and let it steep while you have breakfast.
Alternatively, you can make a strong brew in advance, strain it, let it cool and keep it in the fridge. In the morning, heat the amount you want, dilute it with hot water to taste and fill your bottle. It is common practice to use up such supplies within one to two days.
The fresh root itself is best stored cool and dry, for example in the vegetable drawer. Cut pieces quickly dry out at the cut surface – wrap them loosely or use them up soon. Many people also freeze leftovers in small pieces and grate them straight from frozen when needed.
The right bottle for on the go
To keep the tea hot until the afternoon, you need a well-insulated bottle that closes tightly and does not add any taste of its own. According to the manufacturer, our two IZY bottles are made for exactly that: the IZY Bottles Van Gogh Flowers thermos bottle and the IZY x Pip Studio “La Dolce Vita” thermos bottle are made of double-walled, rustproof stainless steel, keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours and are taste-neutral. The leak-proof screw cap ensures that nothing spills in your bag. At 500 ml, the amount from our basic recipe fits in exactly.
You can find both designs in our IZY collection.
When and where the tea fits well
For many people, a cup of ginger tea is a nice break in the office, on a winter walk or in the relaxation room after a sauna session. Especially on grey days, the heat makes a change from the usual herbal tea. If you take the bottle to the sauna, you will find more ideas for your bag in our article Packing your sauna bag. And if you like to end the working day in the sauna, you can brew the tea in the morning – tips on that are in After-work sauna.
A note: ginger tastes intense, and not everyone tolerates large amounts equally well. If you have health questions or take medication, it is best to check regular consumption with a doctor.
After drinking: clean the bottle promptly
Ginger has a strong aroma that can cling to the bottle if left standing for a long time – especially if honey or lemon were added. So rinse the bottle as soon as possible after emptying it with warm water and a little mild washing-up liquid, give it a quick brush and leave it to dry open. According to the manufacturer, our IZY bottles should be cleaned by hand and not put in the dishwasher.
Related reading: Tea in a thermos bottle: how it stays hot without turning bitter · Children's punch in a thermos bottle: a recipe for the Christmas market · Drinking in winter: why it is harder and what helps
Conclusion
Ginger tea to go is quick to make: cut fresh root into thin slices, let it steep in hot water for at least ten minutes, strain and pour into the preheated thermos bottle. With lemon, orange, mint or cinnamon you get variety, and because nothing keeps steeping, the tea still tastes the way you set it in the afternoon. With a well-insulated, taste-neutral bottle like the IZY models, you will have it hot with you all day.
Frequently asked questions
How much ginger do I need for 500 ml of tea?
About 20 to 30 grams of fresh root, roughly a thumb-sized piece. Öko-Test gives a guide value of 10 to 15 grams per cup.
How long should ginger tea steep?
At least about ten minutes. The longer it steeps, the hotter it gets. Then be sure to strain it before pouring it into the bottle.
Can the ginger stay in the thermos bottle?
Better not. Otherwise it keeps steeping all day, the tea becomes very hot and sometimes bitter, and the pieces are difficult to remove.
Do I have to peel the root?
Not necessarily. According to the BZfE, the skin is edible. With organic produce, thorough washing is enough; older roots often taste milder peeled.
Can I take ginger tea cold as well?
Yes. Let the strained tea cool, put it in the fridge and then pour it into the bottle. According to the manufacturer, our IZY bottles keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.