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How to make Garlic Tea? (8 TOP Health Benefits Listed)

Garlic Tea Recipe

Garlic is used in cooking to add a lot of flavors, and eating garlic raw is traditional medicine and a natural remedy to clean out the digestive system, and treat a cold, or flu.

Garlic tea is another great way to get the benefits of garlic, so today I will explain how to make it.

As a general rule, you should crush the fresh garlic and leave it to sit for 10 minutes.

A study showed that doing so releases more of the allicin in garlic.

Which is one of the main beneficial chemicals in garlic.

Then add it to a mug and pour boiling water over it.

It’s also possible to boil the garlic in water, extract the garlic, and drink the remaining water as a tea.

There is an ideal amount of time to boil garlic in water to extract the most nutrients.

So, below I will explain how long to boil garlic in water when making garlic tea, as well as, whether garlic tea is good for you.

How Long to Boil Garlic for Tea?

How Long Should I Boil Garlic for Tea

Garlic tea contains some of the beneficial nutrients and antifungal properties found in garlic and tea is typically made by adding boiling water to a tea bag or tea leaves, however, with garlic tea, the garlic can be boiled. 

But I wanted to know how long you should boil garlic (regular garlic) to make this hot beverage full of powerful antioxidants, so I looked into it, and here’s what I found.

You should boil garlic tea for around 10 minutes.

The part of the garlic that comes out during boiling is the garlic juice.

To get the most benefit from garlic tea, it’s better to consume regular garlic with the tea.

Boiling it for 10 minutes will make it much sweeter, and easier to eat. 

You want to use just a little bit more than the amount of tea you want to drink, and the best way to do that is by measuring it in the mug/cup you use to drink tea.

For example, if you want to make 2 cups of garlic tea, use 2 cups of warm water.

You can also add fresh lemon juice, to balance out the strong flavor of the food of regular garlic.

As you can see, garlic tea uses simple ingredients.

But, the sky’s the limit with garlic tea recipes, and you can add many other flavors.

Only a small amount of the medicinal benefits and beneficial nutrients in garlic cloves will come out if you pour boiling water over crushed garlic or garlic powder.

But, it’s better to crush cloves of garlic in a garlic miner/garlic press, or using the side of a knife.

It increases the surface area which allows more of the beneficial nutrients and flavors to come out.

Alternatively, boil regular garlic in water, and only drink the hot water.

When you juice vegetables such as garlic you retain about 90% of the nutrients.

However, soaking garlic in water will only cause about 10% of the nutrients in the garlic to be present in the tea.

Therefore, it’s not that healthy and you’re better off drinking a different kind of tea that tastes better.

As garlic tea has a very bad taste.

Another similar drink to garlic tea is onion water.

I looked into the nutrients in onion water, and what health benefits it has in this article about the benefits of drinking onion water.

Garlic and Garlic Tea Benefits

Fresh garlic contains allicin, which is known to be an antibiotic according to the medical professionals at Stanford Children’s Hospital (source).

As you may know, antibiotics kill bacteria.

One drawback of antibiotics that aren’t natural is that they kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria.

Therefore, garlic is a better antibiotic because of its antioxidant properties and antibacterial properties.

Human studies show that It has the added bonus of helping with things like sore throat and can strengthen your immune system.

Because garlic is eaten, any harmful bacteria in the mouth and throat are severely impacted.

For this reason, garlic has antiviral properties and can be good in the cold time of year which is also flu season, when many people (People With Diabetes) develop flu symptoms.

And can help with sinus infections.

Here’s a video that explains some of the main benefits of garlic tea and garlic:

Here’s a table I put together that shows how much of each nutrient is found in garlic compared to garlic tea.

Nutrient per 3 cloves of garlic Garlic Garlic tea
Protein 1.00% 0.10%
Fat 0.00% 0.00%
Calories 1.00% 0.10%
Carbs 1.00% 0.10%
Fiber, total dietary 1.00% 0.10%
Sugars 0.00% 0.00%
Calcium, Ca 2.00% 0.20%
Iron, Fe 1.00% 0.10%
Magnesium, Mg 1.00% 0.10%
Phosphorus, P 1.00% 0.10%
Potassium, K 1.00% 0.10%
Sodium, Na 0.00% 0.00%
Zinc, Zn 1.00% 0.10%
Copper, Cu 1.00% 0.10%
Manganese, Mn 8.00% 0.80%
Selenium, Se 2.00% 0.20%
Vitamin C 5.00% 0.50%
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) 1.00% 0.10%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 1.00% 0.10%
Niacin (Vitamin B3) 0.00% 0.00%
Vitamin B-6 6.00% 0.60%
Vitamin B-12 0.00% 0.00%
Vitamin A 0.00% 0.00%
Vitamin E 0.00% 0.00%
Vitamin D 0.00% 0.00%
Vitamin K 0.00% 0.00%

As you can see one cup of garlic tea only has a very minor impact on your total daily nutrient intake.

And drinking large quantities of garlic tea won’t provide much additional benefit.

Eating the 3 gloves of garlic, or the amount you would typically use to make 1 cup of garlic tea provides 90% more of each of the beneficial vitamins and minerals that garlic contains.

It’s possible to add sweeteners to garlic tea such as sugar or maple syrup. Raw garlic and sweeteners do not taste very good.

But, once the garlic is fully cooked after being boiled it develops a mild, sweeter flavor. 

It still retains its strong garlic taste that comes from the organosulfur compounds.

However, isn’t nearly as strong as raw garlic.

Common side effects of garlic are that after preparing garlic your fingers can still smell like garlic very strongly, and the next day you can have a body odor.

Another similar herbal tea to garlic tea is orange peel tea.

It can also be made yourself or bought in stores.

I explained how to make it, and other uses for dried orange peel in this article about orange peel tea.

Is Garlic Tea Good for You?

Is Garlic Tea Good for You

Garlic is known to contain many beneficial vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory properties and is one of the tried and true natural remedies.

Garlic also adds a lot of flavor to cooked dishes.

However, garlic tea is essentially a garlic extract and isn’t the same as consuming garlic, so here’s a summary of what is garlic tea good for.

Garlic tea is good for you.

However, garlic tea at the most has 10% of the nutrients in the garlic used to make it.

Therefore, the most efficient way to get the beneficial nutrients in garlic is to consume garlic either raw or cooked rather than as a tea.

Another good option is to add ginger to garlic tea to make garlic ginger tea.

The great thing about ginger is it also has a very strong flavor that can overpower the bitter/unpleasant taste of garlic and bad breath.

And ginger garlic tea is a very simple recipe.

However, like garlic, you’re better off eating ginger if you had to choose.

And you shouldn’t force yourself to tolerate the bad taste of ginger (raw ginger) or garlic tea because you think it will have health benefits.

As these health benefits are virtually insignificant.

Garlic, which has the scientific name allium sativum has a number of health benefits.

Garlic tea health benefits include:

  1. Lowering blood pressure
  2. Anti-inflammatory properties
  3. Helps with an upset stomach/stomach ache
  4. Increases the health of the respiratory system
  5. Help with stomach problems
  6. Reducing the risk of heart disease
  7. Has antioxidant properties
  8. Has antibacterial properties

However, there is no scientific evidence that it has any effect on weight loss and blood pressure, on its own.

Garlic supplements such as liquid garlic oil pills, or dry garlic supplement pills are also common at health food stores and your local grocery store.

A scratchy throat is often the first sign of a cold. But, can also occur after you’ve recovered from a cold.

Raw garlic also has a range of health benefits

Some people take raw garlic first thing in the morning when they feel a cold coming on, to kill all the negative bacteria in their mouth, and digestive system.

And can be a good idea provided you can tolerate the taste. and enjoy its medicinal properties.

Adding more garlic (you can add raw ginger) than you usually use or adding garlic if don’t typically use it to your favorite dishes is also a good way to consume garlic when you feel the flu coming on.

But, it has a VERY strong flavor.

How much garlic you eat this way depends on your tolerance to the taste.

But, around 2 to 3 gloves is a good ballpark.

One of my personal experiences is I did 36 hour fast and then broke the fast by eating 3 cloves of raw garlic.

But, one clove of garlic can also do the trick.

The first time you try raw garlic it can take a bit of getting used to.

It’s incredibly spicy, and you need to power through chewing and swallowing it.

Minced garlic can be a better option because you can swallow it in one go.

You can also add a little bit of honey to make it easier to get down.

It’s common over time to develop intestinal parasites.

Once, they’re starving for food after a fast, hitting them with a wallop of raw garlic is usually enough to kill them, and make them detach.

But, a cup of tea is a nice way to consume garlic as well.

A shot of apple cider vinegar can also be really good first thing in the morning.

But, does rely on you not having any pre-existing conditions.

And it’s best to seek medical advice from your healthcare provider.

Garlic and Ginger Tea

Garlic and ginger tea is a popular drink that has been used for centuries for their numerous health benefits. It is made by boiling crushed garlic and ginger together in the water. The tea has a strong and pungent flavor and aroma, but it is well worth the taste for the benefits it provides. Garlic is known for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, while ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory and is great for digestive issues. Both of these ingredients work together to boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and aid in digestion. Garlic and ginger tea is a great alternatives to traditional tea, especially if you are looking to improve your overall health and wellness. It can be enjoyed hot or cold and can be sweetened with honey or lemon to suit your preference.

Some Ginger and garlic tea benefits are:

  1. Boosts Immunity: Ginger and garlic both have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help strengthen the immune system and protect against infections.
  2. Relieves Pain: Garlic and ginger are natural pain relievers, making them effective in reducing pain caused by headaches, menstrual cramps, and arthritis.
  3. Reduces Inflammation: The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic and ginger help reduce inflammation and swelling, making it a natural remedy for conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  4. Supports Cardiovascular Health: Garlic and ginger both have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve circulation, making them beneficial for heart health.
  5. Alleviates Digestive Issues: Ginger has been used for centuries to treat digestive problems like nausea, bloating, and indigestion. Garlic is also known to help with digestive issues, as well as promote healthy gut bacteria.
  6. Aids in Weight Loss: Garlic and ginger have been shown to have metabolism-boosting properties, making them useful for weight loss and weight management.
  7. Antioxidant Properties: Both garlic and ginger contain powerful antioxidants that protect against free radical damage, making them important for overall health and longevity.
  8. Supports Respiratory Health: Ginger and garlic have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help to relieve symptoms of respiratory problems such as colds, flu, and bronchitis.