Green tea is great for you—and many of its compounds are being studied for their anticancer benefits, but it can be astringent and bitter. Here I’ve added ginger and lemon with either honey or agave to really knock out the bitterness. The result is a refreshing lemonade that’s far healthier than the average store-bought blend. If you really want to amp up the sweetness, squeeze in a few oranges as well.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 4 cups
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Bring the water and ginger to a boil in a saucepan, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Remove the tea bags and ginger, stir in the lemon juice and agave nectar, and chill for at least 1 hour before serving over ice.
storage
Step 3
Store, covered, in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
nutrition information
Step 4
(per serving)
Step 5
Calories: 15
Step 6
Total Fat: 0g (0g saturated, 0g monounsaturated)
Step 7
Carbohydrates: 3g
Step 8
Protein: 0g
Step 9
Fiber: 0g
Step 10
Sodium: 0mg
CULINARY RX
Step 11
Green tea has lots of wonderful antioxidants known as catechins. (Don’t you love these names?) Studies have shown that catechins inhibit cancer cell growth and blood flow to tumors, but there’s a catch: Green tea’s catechins are absorbed far better if the contents of the intestine are slightly acidic. Enter the lemon! One study showed that adding a little citric acid to green tea boosted absorption of catechins by a whopping 500 percent. That’s a mighty powerful pucker!
