Spice It Up: Jujube Ginger Tea

By Sally X. Liu, Dietetic Intern

Jujube ginger tea is a traditional drink often enjoyed by the Asian population. It can increase hydration throughout the day. Ginger tea is a comforting option and has several benefits including relieving menstrual cramps, nausea and improving digestion [i]. Packed with various nutrients, this tea is an easy-to-make drink to warm up your body anytime throughout the year. It is comforting on days you are not feeling well and can help settle the stomach. The sweet taste can be a healthy option to fulfill your sweet tooth after a meal or for a midday pick-me-up. 

Ingredient Highlight: 

Dried Red Dates (Jujube): Red dates are low in calories but high in fiber. They may help improve sleep quality and digestion [ii]. Jujubes may benefit our brain by protecting neural cells from being damaged from different levels of stress [iii]. Some believe that jujube helps to promote memory and learning, even considered as a potential candidate for preventing neurological diseases.      

Ginger: Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-nausea properties [iv]. It has a long history of being used as an alternative medicine around the world. One of its functions is to reduce oxidative stress, protecting the body’s cells from damage [v]. Ginger also may assist with weight management and blood sugar control [vi].

Recipe, Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 6 dried red dates (jujubes)
• 6 slices of ginger
• 4 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Clean the red dates and slice them into halves.   
2. Clean the ginger and peel their skins.  
3. Cut the ginger into slices, about 1/4-1/2 inch in length and width for each slice.  
4. Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1000ml water to a cooking pot
5. Heat the cooking pot at medium heat, add the ginger and red dates and cover the pot with a lid 
6. Bring them to boil and then turn the heat down to a simmering level.   
7. Let it simmer for 35-40 minutes. Simmer for longer if you prefer a stronger taste.   
8. Now you can eat the delicious ginger and dates while you sip the warm tea or at room temperature!

Notes: 

• If dried red dates are not available, may use rabbi date, honey date, or black date.  
• Be cautious with the seed within red dates; may buy seedless red dates if preferred. 
• The drink could be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days; reheat everything until boiling when being served.    
• This drink can be served as part of a meal or snack.  
• May add a splash of any type of milk with the tea if desired.  
• May reduce the amount of sugar or replace it with honey or a sugar alternative like stevia.

References:

[i] Shoemaker, S. (2023, April 3). The 8 best teas for Menstrual Cramps. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-for-cramps 

[ii] Shoemaker, S. (2023, July 5). What is jujube fruit? nutrition, benefits, and uses. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/jujube#benefits   

[iii] Chen, J., Liu, X., Li, Z., Qi, A., Yao, P., Zhou, Z., Dong, T. T. X., & Tsim, K. W. K. (2017). A Review of Dietary Ziziphus jujuba Fruit (Jujube): Developing Health Food Supplements for Brain Protection. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2017, 3019568. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3019568

[iv] Mao, Q. Q., Xu, X. Y., Cao, S. Y., Gan, R. Y., Corke, H., Beta, T., & Li, H. B. (2019). Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 8(6), 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8060185

[v] Ballester, P., Cerdá, B., Arcusa, R., Marhuenda, J., Yamedjeu, K., & Zafrilla, P. (2022). Effect of Ginger on Inflammatory Diseases. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(21), 7223. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217223[vi] Leech, J. (2024). 11 scientifically proven health benefits of ginger. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-ginger#11-health-benefits