This winter has been gnarly health-wise. I don't think anyone has been entirely immune to the yuckiness. I have seen way too many colds, ear infections, and lingering coughs for my liking. I am grateful to have the awesome tools of Chinese medicine to support my patients through this season, but it is essential to have at-home remedies on hand as well. In case you, your family, or friends are suffering from one of those above-mentioned lingering coughs, here is a super simple recipe for a Grapefruit and Honey Tea that will ease coughing, boost immunity, and soothe your whole respiratory system.
Personally, I don't think it is a coincidence that many varieties of citrus are at the height of ripeness during the winter months, when our bodies need their tart, vitamin-packed goodness the most. This recipe utilizes grapefruit for its high vitamin A and C content as well as its bitter, heat clearing properties. Bitter flavors drain heat and infection out of the body, from the Chinese medical perspective. Honey works synergistically to balance the bitterness of the grapefruit as well as nourish the throat and lungs. Raw, unfiltered honey retains anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties while moistening the lungs and calming a cough.
Try it out and let me know what you think!
Grapefruit and Honey Tea
Step 1: Clean and chop up 1 large or 2 small organic grapefruits (leave the peel on).
Step 2: Place in a pot with 4 cups of water (use half the amount of grapefruit and water for just one mug-full of tea) and bring to a boil. Simmer on low, covered, for 15-20 minutes.
Step 3: Strain the liquid into a mug and, if you want to get every drop of goodness, squeeze the grapefruit pieces once they've cooled a bit.
Step 4: Add raw honey to taste and enjoy! Raw, unfiltered buckwheat and manuka honey are two excellent choices for sweeteners. Keep in mind that bitterness is also a primary therapeutic property of this tea, so please don't sweeten all of the bitter flavor out of it :-).