Vietnamese-Style Ginger Tea
Why this recipe works
- Ready quickly: Thinly sliced ginger infuses the water efficiently, giving a full-flavoured tea in about 20 minutes.
- Bright finish: Lime juice cuts through the warmth of the ginger and the sweetness of the sugar, keeping the drink clean and refreshing.
- Easy to adjust: The strength, sweetness and citrus level can all be adjusted to taste without changing the basic method.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Best served hot: Serve the tea as soon as it is strained for the clearest ginger aroma and the freshest lime flavour.
- Short prep, gentle simmer: Most of the time is hands-off simmering; slicing and bruising the ginger is the key preparation step.
Ingredient notes
- Choose firm fresh ginger: Firm, fresh ginger gives a cleaner, brighter heat than older, fibrous pieces.
- Add lime off the heat: Stir in lime juice after simmering so the citrus stays sharp and fragrant rather than muted.
- Sweeten to taste: Granulated sugar gives a clean sweetness, while honey can add a rounder, floral note.
Ingredient swaps
- Use honey instead of sugar: Acacia honey works well if you prefer a softer, more rounded sweetness.
- Swap lime for lemon: Lemon gives a slightly gentler citrus finish while keeping the tea bright.
Make-ahead tips
- Make the infusion ahead: The ginger tea can be cooled and refrigerated in a covered container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat gently: Warm it in a saucepan until steaming, then add fresh lime juice after reheating for the best flavour.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel the ginger and slice it thinly. Lightly bruise the slices with the side of a knife to help them release their flavour.
- Put the water and ginger in a small saucepan and bring to the boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 12 minutes, until the tea smells strongly of ginger.
- Stir in the sugar until dissolved, then take off the heat. Squeeze in lime juice to taste, then strain into a cup and serve hot.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For a stronger, spicier cup, simmer the ginger for 15 minutes and keep the lid on to reduce evaporation.
- Add the lime juice off the heat to keep the flavour bright and fresh.
Substitutions
- Replace granulated sugar with acacia honey for a rounder sweetness.
- Replace lime with lemon for a slightly softer citrus finish.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Cool, then refrigerate in a covered container. Reheat gently in a saucepan until steaming, and add fresh lime juice after reheating for the best flavour.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 1 cups
- Total time: 20min (5min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Ginger and Mint Tea
Hot ginger tea infused with fresh mint and sugar
Oolong Tea
Fragrant oolong tea brewed in hot water, served plain or sweetened
Ginger Milk Tea
Hot ginger milk tea brewed with black tea, milk and sugar
Thai-Style Ginger Lime Tea
Ginger lime tea sweetened with honey
Thai-Style Tamarind Iced Tea
Tamarind iced tea with black tea and lime
Moroccan-Style Mint Iced Tea
Mint iced tea made with black tea, sugar and fresh mint
Spiced Winter Beer (Belgian Style)
Warm spiced beer with orange, clove and cinnamon
Moroccan Mint Tea (Sweet Mint Green Tea)
Sweet mint green tea served hot with a light foam
Strawberry Smoothie
Cold strawberry smoothie with Greek yoghurt, milk and honey
Passion Fruit Juice (Fresh Tropical Juice)
Strained passion fruit juice with lime, caster sugar and ice
Caribbean Ginger Beer (Non-Alcoholic Ginger Drink)
Chilled ginger beer with lime, cinnamon and cloves
Sweet Iced Tea
Sweet iced tea brewed with black tea, sugar and lemon
Dulce de Camote (Sweet Potato Paste with Cinnamon)
Sliceable sweet potato paste cooked with sugar and cinnamon
Ginger Milk Tea
Hot ginger milk tea brewed with black tea, milk and sugar
Thai-Style Ginger Lime Tea
Ginger lime tea sweetened with honey
Ginger Pineapple Punch (Spiced Fruit Punch)
Pineapple punch with ginger and lime, served over ice
Pineapple Ginger Juice
Pineapple juice blended with ginger and lime
Sorrel Drink (Caribbean Hibiscus Drink)
Chilled hibiscus drink steeped with ginger, cloves and cinnamon
You might also like
Porchetta Arrosto (Italian Rolled Pork Roast)
Italian rolled pork roast with fennel, rosemary and lemon
Sopa de Lima (Yucatecan Lime and Chicken Soup)
Yucatecan chicken and lime soup finished with tortilla strips
Saure Linsen mit Spätzle (Swabian Sour Lentils with Egg Noodles)
Sour lentil stew served over Spätzle with fried onions
Chicken and Mushroom Pie
Chicken and leek pie with mushrooms and puff pastry
Zuppa di Pesce alla Veneziana (Venetian Fish Soup)
Venetian fish soup with mixed seafood in tomato and white wine
Stir-Fried Lotus Root with Pork and Chilli
Crisp lotus root stir-fry with minced pork and chilli
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid
- High-quality stainless steel
- Even heat distribution
- Higher price point
T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart
- Easy food release
- Dishwasher safe
- Not induction compatible
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan
- Excellent heat control
- Premium build quality
- Expensive
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
