Natural teas are another great way to incorporate fresh fruit or many of your store cupboard ingredients into your daily routine. It amazes me how many people now drink warm water every morning to rebalance and alkalize their system. Don’t stop there! Try adding herbs, spices, citrus fruits, or even some of the shots from here.
One of my favourite ingredients is apple cider vinegar. It’s unbelievably good for you and is one of the oldest natural cures for a whole range of ailments. I particularly enjoy it in warm water with some cinnamon and raw honey.
My tip would be to invest in a good-quality loose-leaf teapot so you can play with your infusions.
Apple cider vinegar is an important part of my daily routine – whether it’s in salad dressings, teas or a morning shot. This is my winter flu-fighting drink when I’m feeling fatigued or under the weather. It is also great to have before a big meal as it aids digestion.
500ml warm water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 slices of fresh root ginger, peeled
1 tsp raw or manuka honey
a pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
Combine all the ingredients together and stir well.
JUICEMAN TIP
If you get a breakout of spots, try dabbing on neat apple cider vinegar … It works for me!
JUICEMAN FACT
Apple cider vinegar helps to speed up the metabolism. It also supports fat burning and can control appetite.
This drink sits between a juice and a soup. I love how the apples/pineapple blend with the carrot and spices.
5 apples or ¼ of a pineapple, peeled and cored
1 orange, peeled
1 cinnamon stick
2 star anise
a sprig of rosemary
4 carrots
2.5cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
a pinch of ground cinnamon
a pinch of ground nutmeg
Juice the apples (or the pineapple, if using) and the orange and pour the juice into a saucepan. Add the cinnamon stick, star anise and rosemary, then cover with a lid. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 1–2 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside, covered, for 5 minutes, then strain through a fine sieve.
Juice the carrots and ginger and mix with the warm spiced apple juice. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with the cinnamon and nutmeg before serving.
JUICEMAN TIP
Add some rum to turn it into a winter punch.
Matcha is the ultimate green tea as it consists of the whole leaf in powdered form. It can be used like coffee, to make anything from a matcha shot to a matcha cappuccino. This is a delicious, warming tea. With all the goodness from the matcha and almonds, your body will feel comforted, too.
250ml almond milk
1 tsp matcha green tea powder
a pinch of vanilla powder
To serve hot, place the milk in a pan with the other ingredients and warm over a low heat. Use a whisk to make sure there are no lumps.
JUICEMAN TIP
For extra sweetness, add some manuka honey and then sprinkle some cinnamon on top.
We all know how good mint tea is at the end of a meal to aid digestion, but don’t just save it for after you’ve eaten – this tea will make you feel refreshed at any time of day. If you have any leftovers, strain and store in a glass bottle in the fridge.
½ a lemon, peeled
a small handful of mint leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
manuka honey, to taste
1 slice of fresh root ginger
Slice the lemon and place in a large cup. Add the mint leaves, then crush them to get the aromas going. Next, add the cinnamon and star anise. Pour over freshly boiled water. Steep the tea for 5 minutes. Enjoy with a little manuka honey and add a slither of ginger.
JUICEMAN TIP
Double the ingredients and place in a pot for more than one serving. You can keep refreshing this with water or use the leftovers in a smoothie – just remember to remove the spices.
This is how I start my day and it feels both refreshing and invigorating. The cayenne pepper is excellent for getting your digestive system fired up, the maple syrup is for energy and the lemon is to cleanse.
½ a lemon, peeled
a mug of warm water (or you can make it with cold water in the summer)
2.5cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
a pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tsp maple syrup
Slice the lemon and put it into a teapot of water. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir.
JUICEMAN TIP
You can make a batch and keep it in the fridge for 3–5 days or you can freeze it.
