If the weather hasn’t brought the heat to wherever you’re located, then this tea will do the trick. Today I’m reviewing Hampstead Lemon & Ginger Tea, which is technically an herbal infusion rather than a tea.
This delicious tea only contains 3 ingredients – no flavouring, no colouring, no unnecessary crap. I have a feeling that it’s going to be spectacular. The wonderful thing about lemon and ginger is that they are vibrant, powerful ingredients that don’t need much encouragement to really explode in your mouth.
Let’s dig right in.
Hampstead Lemon and Ginger Tea at a Glance
- Blend: Ginger root and lemon peel with additional lemongrass
- Flavour: Fiery ginger with mellow lemon notes lingering beneath the fire
This is a very bold and fiery tea that’s heavy on the ginger and light on the lemon. So, just add a slice of lemon to your cup as it brews and you’ll create the perfect lemon and ginger tea.
Full Review – Hampstead Tea Lemon Ginger Infusion
- Type: Tagged paper filter teabag
- Ingredients: Ginger root, lemon peel, lemongrass
- Health Benefits: Soothe a sore throat
- Flavour Notes: Fiery ginger, bright, muted lemon
- Aroma: Tingly ginger, mellow lemongrass, slightly sweet
- Milk or Lemon: Honey, if desired
- Where to Buy: Amazon or Hampstead Website
Ripping open the paper wrapping, the initial aroma is a little bit disappointing. The ginger tingles your nose and the lemongrass creates a mellow background, but there’s not much else going on. Thankfully, adding water really livens it up.
It brews into a cloudy lemonade colour and has a soft lemon ginger smell. It’s mellow and slightly sweet with a hint of the fire that ginger can bring.
But don’t make the mistake of assuming the flavour will also be gentle! The fiery ginger really kicks in from the second you take a sip. It lights your mouth on fire! The phrase ‘cleanse by fire’ comes to mind. As you grow accustomed to the abrasive ginger flavour, smoother lemon and lemongrass notes slide in.
Overall, it’s a really strong flavoured and bold tea, but I think that it could do with more lemon in general. The acidity and fruity note of lemon would cut through the ginger nicely.
See my tips for brewing it next.
How to Brew Lemon Ginger Tea
Hampstead recommend brewing for 3 to 5 minutes, but I’d recommend 2 to 4 minutes instead. The ginger is really very strong and brewing for longer doesn’t really bring the lemon out more, so there’s little point in being patient.
Use boiling water – around 250ml per teabag – and let it steep with a slice of fresh lemon in your mug too. This will really lift the tea and make it more palatable.
If you want to add a teaspoon of honey, which I definitely recommend if you have a sweet tooth, then add it after the teabag has been removed.
Why Hampstead Biodynamic Tea?
I really like what Hampstead is doing with their range of herbal and traditional teas. In this ginger lemon blend, only natural and biodynamic ingredients are used. There’s no flavouring or chemical content.
Furthermore, the biodynamic status means that they put in more than they take away. Essentially, these farming methods replenish the soil and encourage wildlife, rather than the other way around.
And to top it off, their packaging is entirely plastic-free and biodegradable. Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive than the chemical-filled supermarket alternative, but the flavour and quality are far superior. Give it a try!
Health Benefits
The health benefits of Hampstead Lemon and Ginger Tea are simple. It’s really great for a sore throat or cold, as the ginger reduces inflammation, and the lemon can settle your stomach. The lemongrass ingredient may also be able to battle bacterial and fungal infections, according to WebMD.
As always, take these health benefits with a pinch of salt. Or a spoonful of honey, in this case.
Summary
Overall, this tea is utterly delicious and so strong! You can call this tea many things, but “weak” and “watery” it is not. Hampstead produce an amazing range of caffeinated and herbal teas, which are available in the UK. You can find their tea on Amazon UK using the button below.
Tea Recommendation
If you’re seeking something mellow and soothing after this vibrant and punchy herbal infusion, then I recommend reading my review of Whittard Chelsea Garden next. It’s another high-quality tea, except that this one is caffeinated (made with white tea) and is available in teabags and loose leaf format.