This is a simple and delicious beverage that you can enjoy year-round regardless of whether it is January or June or you live in Canada or Florida.  All you need are four ingredients to get you through the winter and usher in the summer. When buying lemons for this beverage, be sure to choose sustainably grown organic lemons!

The Science

A study published in the Journal of Environmental Management compared the sustainability of organic and conventional lemon and orange groves on the island of Sicily. Using a lifecycle assessment approach, the authors compared organic and conventional orchards for energy usage, environmental sustainability and economic sustainability over a 50-year period. They found that for both lemons and oranges, but particularly for lemons, organic production systems were more energy efficient and had lower environmental impacts. They also found that the conventional management systems were more expensive than the organic systems.

The Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups of water
• ¼ cup of fresh squeezed organic lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons of organic honey
• 2 inches of organic ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

Directions

In a sauce pan, combine water and ginger and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 30 minutes (simmer for up to 1 hour if you prefer a spicier beverage). Remove the sauce pan from the heat and discard the ginger slices. Add honey and stir until dissolved. Then add the lemon juice. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add more honey to taste.

If you are drinking this as a hot tea, serve immediately.  If you are serving as lemonade, chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour (and up to three days).  Garnish with a lemon and serve on ice.

Banner Photo Credit: Marina Grynykha; unsplash.com

Photo Credit:  Jusfilm; unsplash.com