5 Easy Homemade Detox Tea Recipes

Nothing is better on a cold day than a warm, calming cup of tea. Depending on its ingredients, it can also have various health benefits. Have you ever wanted to try your own homemade detox tea?

Each of us encounters many different environmental toxins every day, including chemicals, heavy metals and polluted air. Increased stress can also add pressure to your body, reducing your ability to cleanse these elements from your system and fight off disease. 

Fortunately, there are many natural tools you can use to strengthen your immune system and increase your overall wellness. Here are five homemade detox tea recipes that will help to eliminate toxins from your body: 

1. Ginger Tea

Ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to decrease pain and inflammation after physical movement. This simple homemade tea is packed with health benefits and is easy for anyone to make after a quick run to the grocery store. 

Ingredients: 

Fresh ginger root

Boiling water

Sweetener to taste

Preparation:

Finely chop about ½ to 1 inch of ginger. Steep in hot water for 5-15 minutes. Add sweetener to taste. 

Variations: 

Try adding freshly chopped garlic for added health benefits. You can also combine it with an herb like lemon balm to bring out a more well-rounded taste. 

2. Turmeric Tea

Turmeric contains a yellow pigment called curcumin, which has incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Increased consumption of curcumin may help the body fight carcinogens and prevent neurodegenerative disease. In addition, it can improve heart and brain health. This tea is a must-try!

Ingredients: 

½ – 1 teaspoon dried turmeric

Boiling water

Sweetener or nondairy milk to taste

Preparation:

Mix the turmeric thoroughly into the water. You may need to use a whisk. Consider adding a nondairy milk to this tea instead of sweetener – it goes well with the turmeric taste. 

Variations: 

Consider adding 1-2 teaspoons of cocoa powder or increasing the spice level with cinnamon, cumin and cloves. You can also add black pepper to increase the spice. 

3. Iced Green Tea

If you prefer cold tea, this recipe’s for you. Green tea has antioxidant benefits, which help fight cell damage and strengthen your heart and brain. However, it’s best prepared in warm to cool water to preserve as many antioxidants as possible. 

Ingredients:

Green tea bags

One lemon

Warm to cool water 

Ice cubes

Sweetener to taste

Preparation:

Steep tea for 3-4 minutes. Add lemon juice. After the tea has steeped, add ice cubes and enjoy. 

Variations: 

Consider adding fresh mint leaves or lemon balm to green tea for a sweeter taste. You can also increase the amount of zing by adding fresh or dried ginger and garlic. 

4. Cayenne Pepper Tea

An ingredient in cayenne pepper known as capsaicin is thought to increase fat burning. In addition to leaving a spicy taste on your tongue, cayenne pepper is nutrient-dense, high in antioxidants and speeds up your metabolism. 

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

One lemon

Boiling water

Sweetener to taste

Preparation: 

Crush the cayenne pepper flakes and stir them into a pot of boiling water to steep. Squeeze in the juice from ¼-½ of the lemon. Let steep for about 15 minutes, and then add sweetener to taste. Vary the proportions of spice, water and lemon to adjust the sharpness of the tea. 

Variations: 

Try adding freshly chopped ginger for more of a zing and extra health benefits. You can also incorporate chocolate tea leaves for a fancy dessert drink. 

5. Violet Tea

This tea is for the more adventurous – it’s made from actual violets, which you’ll have to harvest and dry in the spring. You can also order dried violets online. If you decide to gather the violets yourself, only pick flowers and leaves from plants you are 100% sure are violets. Also, avoid areas that may have been sprayed with chemicals. 

Violets have been used historically to calm nerves, decrease inflammation and treat respiratory tract infections. Wild varieties especially bring a host of beneficial micronutrients to the human body. 

Ingredients: 

Violets

Boiling water

Sweetener or nondairy milk to taste

Preparation:

In the spring, gather violets and spread them on a baking sheet to dry. They don’t need to be washed. Store dried flowers and leaves in an airtight container. Add 1-2 tablespoons of violets to boiling or warm water, and steep for 5-15 minutes. Add sweetener or nondairy milk to taste. 

Variations:

Consider combining with mint, lemon balm or chocolate tea leaves for a more well-rounded flavor. Experiment until the taste of this tea can’t be improved.

Time for Tea

Remember, food is not a magic pill that can instantly improve your health. Eating is a habitual practice that strengthens and nourishes your body over time. The longer you drink herbal teas, the more attuned you’ll become to the complexity and richness of their flavors. 

Add these detox tea recipes to your daily routine to strengthen your body’s response to environmental toxins. Mix and match flavor combinations, and never stop being creative.