Tomato Tea for Congestion, Sore Throat & Coughs
Tomato tea is an easy to make home remedy. Try it for sinus congestion, sore throats, and clearing out the common cold. In this article, we share how to make tomato tea and how it works to speed healing.
What is tomato tea?
Tomato tea is a hot drink with herbs. We're combining a tomato juice base with healing herbs.
This remedy may help with sinus/ear infections, colds, coughing and sore throat. Serve warm (reheat if needed). Sip and hold the liquid in your throat for coughing and sore throat. Do your best to inhale the vapors to help loosen sinus congestion.
Ingredients for Tomato Tea
Start with these ingredients:
- tomato juice
- lemon juice
- garlic
- cayenne
- ginger, optional, but helpful
- salt and pepper to taste
You can adjust each of these to use what you have on hand. Instead of tomato juice, try V8 juice, tomato soup, or even bloody mary mix.
If you don't have fresh lemon juice, try bottle juice, a little lime juice, orange juice, or apple cider vinegar. Fresh garlic is best, but garlic powder or jarred mince garlic also works.
No cayenne pepper powder in the pantry? Try some hot sauce, Tabasco sauce, or Chinese hot mustard. There are many other herbs that are natural antibiotics. Feel free to experiment with your favorites, like oregano or sage.
PrintTomato Tea – Sinus Soothing, Cold Fighting
A simple hot beverage to help clear sinus congestion, colds, and cough.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: beverage
Ingredients
- 2 cups of tomato juice or V8 juice
- 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1–2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
- 1 pinch of cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 pinch of turmeric powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat the tomato juice over medium heat until it's warm but not boiling.
- Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the warm tomato juice.
- Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and turmeric powder (if using).
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Let the tea simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Strain the tea to remove the solid pieces, if desired.
- Pour the tomato tea into a mug and sip it slowly while it's still warm.
How Tomato Tea Helps Clear Sinus Congestion
How does tomato tea work to clear sinus congestion? First, there's the heat. Consuming hot liquid may help open airways and soothe irritated throats.
Each of the ingredients also play a role in healing.
Rich in Antioxidants: Tomatoes are a great source of antioxidants, including vitamin C and lycopene. Antioxidants fight inflammation and boost the immune system.
Garlic's Antimicrobial Properties: Garlic contains allicin, a compound with natural antibacterial and antiviral effects. The sulfur-containing compounds in garlic may help thin mucus, making it easier for the body to expel. This can be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing thick, stubborn mucus associated with sinus congestion.
Ginger's Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Ginger's anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce swelling and irritation in the nasal passages.
Cayenne Pepper's Heat: Studies indicate that capsaicin, the active compound in cayenne pepper, reduces sinus inflammation and decreases coughing. The heat from cayenne pepper can also have a mild analgesic (pain-relieving) effect. This can help with sinus headaches from sinus congestion.
Lemons provides an extra dose of vitamin C, and the acidity also helps to loosen phlegm.
Hot tomato tea loosens up mucus and helps clear out congestion, plus it's safe and easy to use.
See “10 Home Remedies for Congestion” for more nose clearing tips.
More Home Remedies
The best defense is a good offense. To keep cold and flu season from kicking you to the curb, plan ahead. Add immune boosting options to your routine, such as:
Best Probiotics for Cold & Flu
25 Immune Boosting Herbs and Spices
This article is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie is a lifelong learner with a passion for natural remedies and holistic healing. She improved her eyesight and cleared her psoriasis with lifestyle changes .