Sage tea with lemon zest

Lemon sage tea is an easy and simple homemade herbal tea.  This sage herbal tea is made with dried sage leaves and lemon zest. You can choose to add some lemon juice, or honey for sweetness. Enjoy it hot or cold, for a healthy drink option.

A sage leaf infusion with lemon is a great homemade remedy to ease a sore throat. Add some honey and it becomes a lovely hot drink. Growing up, I used to drink lemon sage tea with my dad whenever we were feeling a bit under the weather. I think what helped the throat the most was the honey, anyway. A good herbal tea is a great way to hydrate your body during the colder season. Furthermore, sage herbal tea with lemon is excellent to enjoy after a big dinner.

Sage has plenty of health properties. Traditionally, it has been employed to alleviate various gut issues such as diarrhoea and gas, but it’s been recommended also to reduce sweating. I don’t consider myself an expert, so if you want to learn more here’s a link about the health benefits of sage.

Lemon sage herbal tea in see-through jug and mugs.

Sage tea recipe

To make 2 servings of lemon sage herbal tea you need a half liter of water to which you will be adding:

  • 5-6 dried sage leaves
  • the zest from 1 small lemon

Whether you will be using 5 or 6 sage leaves depends on their size. The same applies to the lemon. If you have large lemons, the zest of half a large lemon will do. However, my lemons are usually quite small, so I always end up using a whole lemon.

Dried sage leaves, a lemon and some lemon zest.

  • Add the water, together with the sage leaves and lemon zest, to a small pot and set on medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
  • When the water boils, lower to medium heat and let simmer 3-4 minutes. Transfer the homemade herbal tea to a serving jug. Serve hot.
Sage and lemon zest infusion in a see-through jar.
Rehydrated sage leaves look like fresh!

Pour the sage tea through a fine sieve mesh to retain leaves and zest. While they make a nice decoration, leaves and zest might be slightly annoying to have in your mug. Moreover, they will continue to flavour the tea water as they steep.

Unlike fresh sage leaves, dried leaves need to rehydrate. This is why we are adding them to the water from the start, and simmering them rather than just adding them to boiling water to steep.

Both the sage and lemon zest have a bitter tone that may intensify as they sit in the infusion. Remove the leaves and zest before pouring the tea to the serving jug if you prefer a milder taste.

Pouring herbal infusion through a mesh sieve to retain debris.

Serving tips

This herbal tea tastes great both hot and cold. To my taste, when served warm the bitter tones come more forward. To balance this out, a great addition is a teaspoon of honey.

Since we’re only adding lemon zest to get the flavour from the lemon oil, a nice flavour variation is by adding lemon juice. Do not simmer the lemon juice: add it only once you take the pot away from the heat.

Alternatively you can add a lemon slice to each mug. It will lend some lemony flavour without being too overpowering. Please be aware that adding lemon (juiced, or a slice) the sage tea will react to its acidity and change colour.

Colour variation if served with or without lemon.
See the difference in colour if served with or without lemon.

In my infusion I use dried sage as sage tea leaves. Unlike other fresh herbs, sage is not very easy to find year round where I live. Growing your own is an option, but I have no problem using dried sage. I usually get it from Italy when my parents come visit. They carry it fresh, wrapped in paper towels. Then we hang it to dry upside down in the kitchen, and store it in a glass jar in my pantry.

Crushed dry sage is a nice flavour addition to many dishes, especially meat or fish. When I have some fresh sage at hand I love making chicken involtini with prosciutto and sage. How much do you use sage in your cooking? Is it a common herb or a more exclusive one? Let me know in the comments!

This lemon sage herbal tea is a lovely natural infusion to enjoy hot or cold. Sage has numerous health properties, and this sage tea with lemon zest is perfect to enjoy after a big dinner or to ease a sore throat, especially with a teaspoon of honey. Easy to make with dried sage leaves and lemon zest, optionally you can also add some lemon juice for extra flavour (and vitamins!).

Lemon sage tea served with or without lemon.
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5 from 10 votes

Lemon sage herbal tea

Sage tea with lemon is an infusion of dried sage leaves and lemon zest in hot water. Perfect both hot or cold, you can add some honey or lemon juice to make it more palatable.
Course Beverage
Cuisine Italian
Keyword healthy hot drink, herbal tea, lemon zest, sage tea
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 people
Calories 8kcal
Author Eva | Electric Blue Food

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Spoon
  • Fine mesh sieve

Ingredients

  • 500 ml water
  • 5-6 sage leaves dried
  • 1/2 lemon zested

Instructions

  • Add the water, together with the sage leaves and lemon zest, to a small pot and set on medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
  • When the water boils, lower to medium heat and let simmer 3-4 minutes. Transfer the homemade herbal tea to a serving jug. Serve hot.
  • Pour the sage tea through a fine sieve mesh to retain leaves and zest. They may continue to flavour the tea water as they steep if you keep them.

Notes

Both the sage and lemon zest have a bitter tone that may intensify as they sit in the infusion. Remove the leaves and zest before pouring the tea to the serving jug if you prefer a milder taste. 
To make the beverage sweeter, add a teaspoon of honey to each serving.
To up the lemon factor you can add some lemon juice or a slice of lemon to each serving. The lemon should be added once the herbal tea is ready to serve. The infusion reacts to the acidity of the lemon and will change colour.
Nutrition Facts
Lemon sage herbal tea
Amount Per Serving
Calories 8 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 13mg1%
Potassium 37mg1%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin C 14mg17%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

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21 Comments

  1. Chef Dennis January 6, 2021 at 10:50

    5 stars
    This Lemon sage tea looks tasty and healthy! My wife will surely love this herbal tea.

    Reply
    1. Eva January 10, 2021 at 20:22

      I really hope she enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Amy Liu Dong January 8, 2021 at 15:05

    5 stars
    This looks really good and healthy drink for my body. I am going to try this at home, thank you!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 10, 2021 at 20:22

      Thank you Amy, it is a pleasant way to hydrate your body!

      Reply
  3. Jenny January 8, 2021 at 20:34

    5 stars
    OMG this is my favorite tea! We make sage tea in Greece often, it is so soothing and comforting and delicious. I was so homesick when I saw your post! In a good way. Thanks so much, you made my day!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 10, 2021 at 20:23

      Hi Jenny! How wonderful! I know the feeling, I love finding recipes that bring me back in time and space.

      Reply
  4. Tracy January 9, 2021 at 16:16

    5 stars
    My tea loving husband loved this! I loved how easy it is. So simple but delicious, thank you!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 10, 2021 at 20:23

      Thank you Tracy! Happy to hear he loved it!

      Reply
      1. Kathy June 10, 2022 at 22:39

        5 stars
        I love this tea especially with honey. I get my dried sage from Jordan. Grow my own fresh. I use tons of sage in all types of cooking and baking. Thanks for the recipe.

        Reply
        1. Eva June 14, 2022 at 11:51

          Hi Kathy! Awesome to hear you liked it!

          Reply
  5. Veronika January 10, 2021 at 18:27

    5 stars
    I love trying new tea flavors and never tried the one with sage. It sounds so good, I need to make it! Wait, I think I have some extra sage left from another recipe, so will try your tea today!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 10, 2021 at 20:24

      Hi Veronika! That’s grate, I also mostly keep sage for savoury recipes, but it works great as tea!

      Reply
  6. Sam January 11, 2021 at 01:49

    5 stars
    I was looking for some tea but I ran out of tea bags. So I tried this tea and it was awesome. So easy!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 12, 2021 at 12:25

      Great to hear, Sam! Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Cindy January 11, 2021 at 02:15

    So glad you posted this! I’ve been searching for different teas to try and this smelled and tasted really good. Super comforting.

    Reply
    1. Eva January 12, 2021 at 12:25

      Hi Cindy! I’m happy you find this useful!

      Reply
  8. Addison January 11, 2021 at 05:02

    5 stars
    This tea is so refreshing and delicious! Perfect for a chilly day!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 12, 2021 at 12:25

      Thank you Addison! And I couldn’t agree more, it’s-11C here at the moment and a hot tea is all I crave.

      Reply
  9. Jacqueline Debono January 11, 2021 at 10:32

    5 stars
    I have sage in my garden but have never used it to make herbal tea! I’m going to cut some leaves and let them dry. Then give this a try! Such a great idea!

    Reply
    1. Eva January 12, 2021 at 12:24

      Hope you enjoy it. I’m happy I gave you one more way to use that wonderful herb.

      Reply
  10. Asa O April 16, 2022 at 03:40

    5 stars
    In times gone by Sage was much revered for its health & vitality promoting properties. It was eaten on bread & butter, or taken as a drink. Used as a tonic for the whole body as spring began each year.
    I am writing an article on asage for a holistic doctor . I hope you don’t mind if I use one or two of your recipes?
    Im sure it was the sage that healed your throat..not the honey. Sage is mouth & throat specific :
    Cant wait to try it with the lemon. I found a ‘sage syrup’ which sounds delicious to add to spring & summer drinks also
    Happy days
    Asa O

    Reply

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