Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea
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Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea
This Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea recipe is a healthy combination of sweet, tart, and fresh flavors. Naturally sweetened with raw honey, this tea serves great as a powerful dose of antioxidants, boost in digestion, and boost in your overall immune system; made from grapefruit, cucumber, thyme sprigs, and lime juice. Can be served hot or cold, is easy to make, and perfect for any day or season, especially during the cooler months. Vegan option available.
Where do I honestly begin with this Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea? I'm such a HUGE fan of tea. It's truly a staple within the Jamaican culture and I grew up seeing the adults in my family drink tea daily-----sometimes twice a day, depending on the circumstance. While I wasn't a fan of it in my earlier years, things definitely have changed once I became in my late teens where I began my own love for a good ole' cup of tea. Haha.
Growing up in a Jamaican household, teas such as cerasee, mint, garlic, ginger, and so many other herbal teas were the everyday go-to's. While such teas are REALLY bold in flavor (sometimes off-putting depending on the herb or ingredient), their health benefits go far beyond the taste and proved to be more beneficial. Most of the teas were boiled over the stovetop from their natural "bush" or herb and then lightly sweetened and enjoyed.
Today, I still adopt a lot of those principles and although I do love tea bags and the variations available, I always find myself leaning back into creating my teas from natural, raw ingredients for added benefit.
This tea in particular is awesome because it's super easy to make, conveniently can be used as a 'meal prep', immune-boosting, and can be enjoyed either hot or cold.
Plus, it's definitely a refreshing take on my very first detox drink that many of you love to this day-----Cucumber Ginger Lemon Detox Juice! Such an easy blend and drink.
Health Benefits of Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea
Together, the ingredients in this homemade Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea have some amazing health benefits, including:
- Powerful plant-based antioxidants that fight disease-causing free radicals in the body
- An immense system boost from vitamin C
- Potassium for healthy cells
- Stimulating your metabolism for faster digestion and a healthy gut
- Great in possibly lowering blood sugar
- Helps hydrate and clear up skin
That is why I began making my teas + juices with powerful ingredients, especially during the cooler months. Previously, I made this Healthy Citrus Pear Ginger Detox Tea, which has immune boosting properties that are without question. Made from fresh oranges, ginger roots, pears, lemons, grapefruit, and naturally sweetened, this tea is a great recipe for the entire family. Easy to make, vegan + gluten-free.
If you’re like me, I am constantly walking around all day with a teacup in my hand. As much as I love my coffee, the variety of flavors and health benefits of tea make it my go-to choice throughout the day. This list of Powerful Teas You Need to Try will give you so many ideas for your tea habit!
10 NATURALLY EFFECTIVE WAYS TO FIGHT A COLD/FLU.
With the Fall/Winter season in full swing, these 10 Naturally Effective Ways to Fight a Cold/Flu come in handy! If you’ve ever had to suffer through either ailment, then you’ll know just how uncomfortable and miserable it can feel. While there are many over-the-counter medicines available, the truth is–natural is best and it actually works!
What You’ll Enjoy Most About This Tea:
It’s super easy to make.
Only uses a handful of ingredients.
Super Healthy—-awesome benefits with digestion, immune support, antioxidants, etc.
All NATURAL—including the sweetener! Vegan option available.
Balance between Tart + Sweet flavors.
All delicious, warmth drink in a glass. Can also be enjoyed cold.
SHOP MY FAVORITE DRINKWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES!
Here, I’ve curated a list of drinkware and mocktail essentials that I use to achieve my favorite drinking experiences, especially with this Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea. Everything from my fave glassware, honey pot, coffee stirrers, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
How to Make Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea
The first step to making this detoxifying tea is to peel the skin of a grapefruit and add it to a saucepan along with the water and thyme sprigs, bringing everything to a boil before steeping it. Add in grapefruit juice.
Then you'll sweeten your tea with the honey (or maple syrup), add lime juice, and sitr everything, pour into your prepared mug(s) and garnish with additional grapefruit wedges and cucumber slices----sip and enjoy!
Ingredients
The main component in this simple homemade Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea is the complex, but complimenting flavors. To make your tea, you’ll use:
- Grapefruit. You can use either the pink or white grapefruit for this tea. You'll need the skin peel of 1 grapefruit and freshly-squeezed juice of another.
- Honey. This adds natural sweetness with antioxidant properties. You can also substitute with Meedjol dates or maple syrup for a vegan-friendly option.
- Freshly-squeezed lime juice. You'll need the juice of ½ a lime to make this tea.
- Cucumber. I like to use organic. You'll need to peel + slice this for garnish.
- Fresh thyme sprigs. You could also use fresh mint or basil leaves for an added herby touch if preferred.
ANY BENEFITS OF GRAPEFRUIT?
The main plus about consuming Grapefruit is that is has high nutritional value but is low in carbs. In addition, it has a decent amount of fiber and comes jam-packed with Vitamins.
Other benefits:
- Great for your Immune System. (Think high sources of Vitamin C!)
- May help to promote Appetite Control. (Diets high in fiber helps to keep you more full, resulting in less frequent eating!)
- May help with weight loss. (Since they are few in calories and contain more water, they aide in weight loss!)
- Possibility of preventing Insulin Resistance. (This generally reduces your chances of Diabetes.)
- May improve Heart Health! (Consuming Grapefruit daily may help to prevent Blood Pressure and reduce Cholesterol.)
- High in Powerful Antioxidants!
- Very Hydrating. (Think high water content which is awesome for our bodies!)
Why Add Thyme? Is There a Benefit?
Although thyme is a common garden herb, many people don’t understand the overall health benefits of using it in recipes such as a drink like this one. Thyme run in the mint family and acts as a great anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agent.
Therefore, adding this herb to other beneficial ingredients will only create a greater powerhouse effect!
How To Store Leftover Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea
Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator, tightly covered in your pitcher or in a sealed mason jar. Best if consumed within a few days. To serve—reheat on the stove top and enjoy!
How To Serve This Tea Cold?
This drink can also be consumed cold, if preferred. Simply let it cool completely once stepped before adding it to a sealed jar or pitcher and refrigerated before serving over ice, if desired.
Can I Add Additional Boost to This Tea?
Absolutely! To add a boost and make this Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea more powerful, you can add mint leaves, turmeric/black pepper, SeaMoss or apple cider vinegar to the mix!
My Fave Detox Recipes To Try!
- Celery Pineapple Detox Mocktail
- Fall Detox Sweet Potato Veggie Soup
- Citrus Ginger Turmeric Ice Cubes
- Citrus Ginger Pear Detox Infused Water
- Healthy Kale Lemonade
- Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Lemonade
- Citrus Ginger Pear Detox Infused Water
- Apple Cranberry Ginger Lemon Detox Juice
- Super Green Detox Smoothie
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you make this Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea, be sure to tag me on Instagram @orchidsandsweettea!
Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea
Ingredients
TEA:
- 2 cups water
- 1 grapefruit, freshly-squeezed
- 1 cucumber, peeled + chopped
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs (See Notes!)
- peeled skin of grapefruit
- 3-4 Tbsps raw honey
- ½ lime, freshly-squeezed
OPTIONAL GARNISH:
- Grapefruit cut into wedges
- Sliced cucumber
Instructions
TO MAKE THE TEA:
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the water and bring to a boil for 1-2 minutes. Add the peels of the grapefruit, freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice, and thyme sprigs, and let it boil for another 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let everything steep (with a pot cover lid) for 5-6 minutes.
- Once fully steeped, add in the honey and stir until combined.
- To serve, pour the tea mixture (discarding of the grapefruit skin and thyme sprigs) carefully into mug(s) and add freshly chopped grapefruit wedges + cucumber slices as garnish, if desired.
- Sip and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator, tightly covered in your pitcher or in a sealed mason jar. Best if consumed within a few days. To serve—reheat on the stove top and enjoy!
- SWEETENER: You can adjust the amount of sweetener depending on how sweet or unsweet you'd like for your tea to be. For the vegan option, use maple syrup or organic cane sugar or brown sugar as the sweetener instead.
- SERVING SIZE: For larger batches, feel free to double or triple the ingredients as needed.
- COLD OPTION: This drink can also be consumed cold, if preferred. Simply let it cool completely once stepped before adding it to a sealed jar or pitcher and refrigerated before serving over ice, if desired.
- ADDITIONAL BOOST: To add a boost to make this drink more powerful, you can add mint leaves, turmeric/black pepper, SeaMoss or apple cider vinegar to the mix!
- EQUIPMENT: Here, I’ve curated a list of drinkware and mocktail essentials that I use to achieve my favorite drinking experiences, especially with this Honey Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme Tea. Everything from my fave glassware, honey pot, coffee stirrers, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Nutrition
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