Three Unsweetened Wellness Teas

Why these three keep coming back

Most warm drinks marketed as comforting arrive pre-sweetened. These don't. They lean on spices that are aromatic enough to satisfy without honey or sugar, which makes them easy to drink daily and easy to keep in rotation.

Naturally unsweetenedNo sugar, no syrup, no sweetener needed. The flavour comes from the spice itself, so nothing is being masked.

Whole ingredientsSticks, seeds, roots and dried flowers rather than tea dust. They steep cleaner and store far longer than pre-blended sachets.

Built for a ritualFive to ten minutes on the stove. Warm in the evening, over ice in summer, and the same three jars cover all of them.

Steeps to a clear amber. Serve warm.

Cinnamon ginger tea

Green tea underneath, warm spice on top, and a squeeze of lemon to lift the whole thing. The most everyday of the three.

Ceylon cinnamon stick1
Green tea1 tsp
Fresh ginger, thinly sliced3–4 slices
Hot water1½ cups
Fresh lemon juice1 tsp

Method

Simmer the cinnamon and ginger in the water for 5–7 minutes. Take the pan off the heat, add the green tea, and steep 2–3 minutes — any longer and the green tea turns bitter. Strain, then stir in the lemon juice.

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Glass cup of deep red hibiscus ginger tea with mint, lemon and dried hibiscus flowers

Steeps deep ruby. Warm or over ice.

Ruby hibiscus ginger tea

Tart, floral and startlingly red. This is the one to make in a jug and keep cold — it drinks like a soft drink without being one.

Dried hibiscus flowers1½ tbsp
Fresh ginger, sliced3–4 slices
Filtered water2 cups
Fresh lemon juice1 tsp
Fresh mintoptional

Method

Bring the water and ginger to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes. Off the heat, add the hibiscus, cover, and steep 8–10 minutes. Strain, then add the lemon and mint. Serve warm or pour over ice.

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Steeps golden. Best served warm.

Fenugreek cinnamon tea

Earthy and faintly maple-like from the fenugreek, rounded out by cinnamon and ginger. The most unusual of the three, and worth trying once before you judge it.

Fenugreek seeds1 tsp
Ceylon cinnamon stick1
Water2 cups
Fresh ginger, sliced2–3 slices
Lemonoptional

Method

Add the fenugreek, cinnamon and ginger to the water and simmer gently for 8–10 minutes. Strain and serve warm, with a squeeze of lemon if you like. Soaking the seeds overnight first makes the flavour softer.

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Before you make these a daily habit

These are kitchen teas, not medicine. Cinnamon, ginger, hibiscus and fenugreek are all being studied for their effects on metabolic health, but the evidence is not strong enough to treat any of them as a treatment for diabetes or a replacement for prescribed medication.

If you take medication for blood sugar or blood pressure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before drinking these regularly — fenugreek and hibiscus in particular can interact with some prescriptions. Fenugreek is also not recommended during pregnancy.