Honey ginger lemon tea is one of my favorite home remedies when I’m starting to feel under the weather, or one my kids starts to sound a bit sniffly. It tastes delicious and does wonders for body and soul. The honey and ginger help soothe a scratchy throat, and the ginger and lemon help clear out the sinuses. I made a big batch of tea this morning, after I woke up listening to my girls sniffling, and feeling a bit stuffy myself. As I added the honey to the tea, I reflected on this past weekend, which I spent up in the mountains at Camp Blogaway.
This year, the National Honey Board was one of the sponsors. They provided some really fun goodies for all of the camp attendees, as well as a wealth of information, during a special session dedicated to educating us about honey.
I have always loved honey and bees.
Maybe it’s due to the fact that I was born in Utah, nicknamed “The Beehive State” (and whose official state insect is the honeybee!), before moving to California as a baby. Or maybe it’s because I’ve always loved the color yellow (now only eclipsed by my love for red), and you can’t think about bees or honey without having the color yellow involved. Growing up, my favorite item to pack in my school lunch was a “butter ‘n honey” sandwich. That combination is still one of my favorites.
Not only is honey delicious, but having it represented as a main ingredient at Camp Blogaway this year was particularly appropriate. Honey is a sweet thick syrup produced by honeybees from the nectar of plants. Honeybees are social insects. They create hives—elaborate nests made up of thousands of individual bees that work together in a highly structured society. The bees all carry out different tasks needed to maintain and operate the hive. Honey is the product of this society. The flavors and color of honey varies, depending on where the bees foraged for their nectar. Going to Camp Blogaway is a bit like being a honeybee. The camp environment provides a place for us to congregate, share and participate in community, and create. We each go out in search of inspiration, like the honeybees search for their nectar, then bring our finds back to the hive, to share, inspire, and create. The product of Camp Blogaway, for me, is as sweet and unique as a variety of honey. Each year is different, unique, and special.
This year was no exception. It was particularly special for me. In addition to meeting lots of new people, I was surrounded by some of my closest friends, and spent the weekend being inspired by some of the people I admire most. Krista (Budget Gourmet Mom), who I’ve known since I was 10 years old, came to camp this year.
Two of my fellow OnDivas were there, Carolyn (All Day I Dream About Food) and Dara (Cookin’ Canuck), as well as my amazing podcasting partner, Allison (Sushi Day). We got to hear Rene Lynch, writer for the Los Angeles Times, speak about the process of how a story comes together for the paper. Rene is not only a talented writer, but one of the nicest people I have the privilege of knowing. Nancie McDermott, one of my favorite cookbook authors (she wrote my all-time-favorite pie cookbook, Southern Pies), shared her knowledge, along with Sandy Hu (representing Kerrygold), about recipe writing, tossing in her contagious smile, Southern charm, and zest for life.
My friend, and one of my heroes, Jean Layton (Gluten Free Doctor Recipes), made everyone around her smile, and dispensed medical aid as the on-sight Camp doctor. Wouldn’t you want her to be your doctor?
My sweet friend, Mimi Avocado, delighted everyone with her bubbly personality, winning the Golden Pinecone Award.
Each person at Camp had something unique to add. I was inspired by the amount of expertise and knowledge that came together under the Camp Blogaway roof. I came away from camp feeling edified and excited. I’m bursting with ideas and information to share with you. I am so grateful to be part of such an amazing food community, and grateful for Patti Londres (Worth the Whisk), for providing a place for all us honeybees to gather for the weekend.
Honey Ginger Lemon Tea
Makes 12 ounces, about 2 servings
2 inches fresh ginger, sliced into thin coins
12 ounces boiling water
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1. Put the fresh ginger in a glass jar or pitcher. Pour the boiling water over it and let it steep for 5 minutes.
2. While the ginger is steeping, divide the lemon juice and honey between two mugs.
3. Strain the ginger tea into the mugs and stir to dissolve the honey. Taste and add more honey if desired.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
What a weekend, so supportive and powerful…You won’t remember this, but last year at Camp, on my birthday when Larry was recovering from his heart attack, I came to camp, not knowing anybody. You and Andrew saved the day. Much love – on to our healthy, healing year ahead – Liz
Wow! What a fun experience! I agree about the ginger tea, whenever I’m feeling down I have a cup, it seems to kick the funk to the curb. Thanks for posting!
LOVE these pictures. It reminds me a lot of the week-long summer camp you went to as a teen–lots of craziness and I’m betting not much sleep. My favorite picture has to be you with Krista. She looks like she’s thinking, “Yeah, she’s a bit off, but she’s my friend anyway.” I feel like I know a lot of the others, even though I haven’t met them, because I hear about them all the time!
I’m envious reading your wrap up of the weekend!! I would have really enjoyed the weekend and hopefully will make it one of these years. Sounds as though you had a fabulous time!
As for the honey, we are big fans as well. My dad raised bees when I was growing up, but I didn’t really appreciate the honey until I was older. Now it’s used frequently in my house and I pick it up at farmers markets around the world when I travel!
Your tea looks delicious…I want some right now! Thank you, dear Avocado Sister, for encouraging me not to give up on Camp Blogaway. It was everything you said it would be … and more!
That looks like so much fun! I’ll have to make time to go next year!
It was an awesome weekend, I love your pictures. I was a bad picture taker at camp (rap knuckles!)
Take care :)
I *love* that picture of you. it is SO you!!! :)
sorry I missed it…yet again!!!
I love honey + lemon tea when I’m feeling sick. Glad you had a nice time @ Camp ~ it looked like loads of fun. ;)
That looks like some good honey! I love honey too! It was so nice to get to meet you at Camp! Can’t wait to see you again at EVO!
I’m going to save the tea recipe for next winter after Christmas when I often get ill. Thank you, dear Rachael. I’m proud of you as a creative cook, but most of all as a mother of two amazing girls. I love you.
Oh my goodness I love that picture too! And yes, that’s totally what I was thinking. Loved seeing you Rach…even if it wasn’t as long as I would have liked. ;) Miss you too Fuji Nana! xo
What a delightful read! Thanks for the delicious recipe and the great camp memories! I so enjoyed meeting you and so many other talented, creative people!
This recipe couldn’t have come at a better time. It really helped to ease my sore throat and with a vacation coming up on Saturday, I need all the help I can get!
Sounds yummy. I need to try this honey tea.
Rachel you have done such an amazing job of articulating the camaraderie, the sense of community and the inspiration that Camp Blogaway was. I also learned something from your post. Many moons ago when my kids were little my daughter Chelsea used to play with a neighbor’s child. They had moved to Connecticut where we were living at that time from Utah. When I asked Chels what they had for lunch she told me “Butter and Honey Sandwiches”. In my mind this was not “lunch” and I told her so. Now I have to call her and tell her that was the official state sandwich of Utah…ha!!
Thanks for a wonderful post….as usual.
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