By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 4
74 cal · 4 min
Shōgayu
Recipe GLPR622f44c0e43b71
A traditional Japanese ginger tea made by steeping fresh grated ginger with lemon zest in hot water. This warming, aromatic beverage is naturally sweetened with a touch of honey and brightened with fresh lemon wedges. Simple, soothing, and perfect for any time of day.
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Ingredients
30 grams fresh ginger
1 lemon, zested and cut into wedges
3 cups boiling water
4 tablespoons honey, optional
Directions
Peel the ginger and grate it finely using a microplane or the small holes of a box grater. Alternatively, use a sharp knife to mince it into small, uniform pieces.
Zest the lemon using a microplane or fine grater, capturing the yellow outer peel without the white pith. Cut the lemon into wedges for serving.
Place the grated ginger and lemon zest into a teapot or heat-safe pitcher.
Pour 3 cups of boiling water over the ginger and zest. Allow the mixture to steep for 2 minutes to fully extract the flavors.
Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve into individual cups, discarding the ginger solids and zest.
Serve the hot tea immediately with lemon wedges on the side and a small bowl of honey for those who wish to sweeten their tea.
Comments
Shōgayu is a Japanese ginger-lemon-honey drink that costs pennies per serving since fresh ginger, lemon, and honey are stocked year-round at every major Charlotte grocer—Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, Walmart, and ALDI all carry them without exception. The four-minute timer is honest for boiling water and steeping, though straining the ginger adds a minute or two depending on your setup. It reheats beautifully and works as a simple weeknight drink for a family, requiring no technique or attention once the water boils. The only mild drawback is that fresh ginger root can vary in intensity between stores and seasons, so the flavor profile shifts slightly depending on what you find.
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