Back in St. Olaf… No wait, back in Ohio…I practiced yoga with Malini, at MP Yoga, and she was the best yoga teacher I’ve ever had. I practiced with her from 2008 to 2013. J and I moved back to Pittsburgh at the end of 2013 and Malini just got pregnant with her first baby and didn’t continue teaching through her pregnancy. It was natural break, and I was sad not to be doing yoga with her anymore. A few times after class, she would make what she called Detox Tea. It was very simple, lemon and ginger steeped in hot water with a sprig of mint as a garnish. It was so tasty, and I loved when she made it. I loved it so much that when we moved into our house in Pittsburgh, I planted mint in my garden so I could have it fresh for my tea. The plant now takes up about half of my garden and I get enough fresh and dried mint to make tea all year round. It’s a hardy plant and it grows and spreads quickly. Here’s the recipe for the Detox Tea along with some pictures and health benefits of the ingredients.
Ingredients:
Mint spring (about 4 – 6 leaves)
1 lemon
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
Water
Instructions:
1. Bring a kettle of water to a boil
2. Cut the lemon in half, then in thirds, long ways.
3. Cut the rind off the lemon
4. Thinly slice or grate the ginger
5. Tear the mint leaves into smaller pieces
6. Add all ingredients to a big mug or tea infuser
7. Add the boiling water to the mug or tea infuser
8. Steep for 15 minutes
9. Pour into another mug using a strainer or pour from your tea infuser and enjoy!
Health Benefits of Detox Tea
By no means am I an expert on health and nutrition. The following is what I have researched on my own, what other people have advised me about the ingredients in this tea, and what I have experienced.
Lemons: aids in digestion, good source of vitamin C, promotes hydration, supports weight loss
Ginger: aids in digestion, eases nausea, fights germs, eases cramps and sore muscles
Mint: aids in digestion, eases nausea, supports weight loss, can ease stress and helps with headaches
If you ate too much on Thanksgiving or have a stomach ache, drink some of this tea.
If you run or do cardio exercises and your stomach hurts from it, make the tea and put in the refrigerator for iced tea and drink it prior to your workout. I do this for my longer runs, but I exclude the lemon from it. Just a personal preference.
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