This homemade red onion tea recipe is great for congestion and cough, with apples, red onion and cinnamon being the main ingredients.
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This immune boosting red onion tea recipe originated in the Dominican Republic and this is exactly where I grew up drinking it. Any time my parents thought we were getting sick, we were congested, or had a cough, onion tea it was!
My father, who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, taught me how to make red onion tea and all about its amazing benefits. Now it is a staple in my household and my children actually love it!
How to make red onion tea?
To simplify, put all of your ingredients in a pot. Fill with water, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 30-45 min. Add honey and enjoy!
How to enhance red onion tea?
Traditionally, this recipe calls for either apples, red onion, and cinnamon or ginger, red onion, and cinnamon. It varies depending on the region of the Dominican Republic you are from.
I prefer the apple version but if I have ginger on hand I will certainly add it for those added benefits as well.
Some ingredients I add to enhance this immune boosting tea are:
- fresh ginger
- dried elderberries
- whole cloves
- dried rose hips
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Dominican Red Onion Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 red Onion
- 2 whole apples
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- honey, to taste
- 1 inch fresh ginger (optional)
- 5-6 whole cloves (optional)
- 5-6 rose hips (optional)
- 1 tablespoon elderberries (optional)
Instructions
- Wash your apples well as you will be keeping the skin on and using the entire apple.
- Cut your red onion and apples into fourths.
- Put your red onion, apples, and cinnamon sticks in a large pot.
- Fill with water until the ingredients are covered completely.
- Bring to a boil, then lower heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-45 min.
- Run tea through a colander
- Add honey and enjoy!
Tips for the best red onion tea
- Traditional Dominican red onion tea only calls for apples, red onion, and cinnamon. The rest of the ingredients are there to enhance it.
- Many people leave the skin on the onion, but I save that for my homemade bone broth.
- Do not throw away the apple cores and seeds, it all goes in the tea!
- Do not worry about the apples being perfect. In fact, I usually make this tea when I see my apples are about to go bad.
When to drink Dominican Red Onion Tea
My father recommends drinking this tea at least once a week when you’re not ill for its immune boosting properties. And increasing to 2 cups a day when you come down with a cold, congestion, cough, or anything viral.
Red Onion Tea: Immune Boosting Tea for Congestion and Cough
Ingredients
- 1 red Onion
- 2 whole apples
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- honey to taste
- 1 inch fresh ginger optional
- 5-6 whole cloves optional
- 5-6 rose hips optional
- 1 tablespoon elderberries optional
Instructions
- Wash your apples well as you will be keeping the skin on and using the entire apple.
- Cut your red onion and apples into fourths.
- Put your red onion, apples, and cinnamon sticks in a large pot.
- Fill with water until the ingredients are covered completely.
- Bring to a boil, then lower heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-45 min.
- Run tea through a colander
- Add honey and enjoy!
Notes
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Red Onion Tea Benefits
Anti-Inflammatory Pineapple Tea Recipe
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