Traditional Wellness · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-14 · Qi & Leaf Editorial Team
How to Make Ginger Jujube Tea: Ratios, Timing and Variations
Ginger jujube tea (sheng jiang hong zao cha) is a warm, gently sweet infusion made by simmering fresh ginger slices with dried red dates — jujubes — in water. The classic starting point is five thin ginger slices and four to six dried jujubes per 750 ml of water, simmered for 20 to 30 minutes. It is naturally caffeine-free, and nearly all of the sweetness comes from the dates themselves, which is exactly why the sugar note matters if you count carbohydrates.
Why ginger and jujube are paired
The pairing is a classic in Chinese daily-life cooking, and it works on two levels. In traditional Chinese thinking, ginger is described as warming while jujube is described as gently nourishing and sweet — the two together often appear in everyday recipes meant to warm a cool morning or settle a busy day. That is a historical framework for describing how a drink feels, not a medical claim. On the flavor level, the logic is simpler: ginger brings heat and a clean bite, jujube brings honeyed sweetness, and the two balance each other without any added sugar. For the background on each ingredient, see our ginger and jujube tea guides.
The classic recipe
Start with about 750 ml of water in a small pot. Slit or pit four to six dried jujubes so the sweetness releases more easily, and slice a thumb-sized knob of fresh ginger — about five to seven thin slices, roughly 3 to 4 cm. Some people peel the ginger for a milder cup; keeping the skin on is the more traditional choice and gives a slightly stronger character. Add both to cold water, bring to a gentle simmer, then keep it at a low simmer — not a hard boil — for 20 to 30 minutes. The water should turn a clear golden amber, and the dates should be soft enough to eat. Drink it warm; the simmered dates are part of the drink if you like. A second infusion is noticeably weaker but still pleasant.
Variations worth trying
The base recipe accepts easy changes. Add six to eight goji berries in the last five minutes for a mild fruity note (more in our goji guide). Add a small piece of dried tangerine peel or chenpi for a citrus layer — peel and date sweetness are a natural match (see our citrus peel tea guide). Swap in black dates for a deeper, less sweet cup, or add a cinnamon stick for a spiced version. For sweetness, brown sugar is traditional, but taste the tea first — the dates often carry enough. Honey should be stirred in off the heat. In summer, brew it stronger, chill it, and serve over ice; the ginger bite is surprisingly refreshing cold.
The sugar and caffeine notes
Dried jujubes are a concentrated fruit: most of their weight is carbohydrate, and simmering pulls that sweetness into the water. A pot made with five dates is not a sugar-free drink — it is a naturally sweet one, with no added sugar unless you add it. If you count carbohydrates or manage blood sugar, it is worth treating the dates like any dried fruit and checking with your healthcare team about how it fits your day. The caffeine question is simpler: ginger and jujube are both caffeine-free, so this tea is caffeine-free as long as the pot contains only those two. The moment a blend adds tea leaf (Camellia sinensis), caffeine appears with it.
Who should be careful
For most people, a daily cup at culinary strength is a normal part of a varied diet. Three groups usually want a quick conversation first. Anyone taking blood thinners should know that concentrated ginger supplements have interaction questions — culinary amounts in tea are generally below the range studied, but tell your pharmacist if you drink strong ginger tea every day. Pregnant women commonly drink ginger tea in culinary amounts, but it is always worth a quick check with a midwife or doctor rather than assuming. And because the dates are genuinely sweet, people managing blood sugar should count them. Each of these points is covered in more detail in our ginger tea label guide and jujube tea guide.
If you buy it ready-made
Pre-made ginger jujube tea comes as loose blends and tea bags, and the label decides what you are actually drinking. Check three things. First, ingredients: ginger root (or ginger) and jujube or red date should appear as actual ingredients, not as “natural ginger flavor” or “date flavor”. Second, sugar: many commercial versions add sugar or honey powder, which changes the drink from naturally sweet to sweetened. Third, strength: products built on ginger extract or concentrate behave differently from whole ingredients, and labels rarely make that obvious. If you would rather brew from whole ingredients, dried jujubes and fresh ginger are easy to source, or our Warm Root morning blend is built around ginger and jujube.
Amazon shopping notes
Disclosure: Qi & Leaf participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program; the links below are affiliate links and we may earn from qualifying purchases. When buying dried jujubes or ginger tea on Amazon, prefer listings with readable ingredient photos and whole-ingredient formulas, and check recent reviews for freshness — jujubes should be plump and chewy, not rock-hard, and ginger tea should list ginger rather than flavoring. Shop dried jujubes on Amazon · or ginger tea bags.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I simmer ginger jujube tea?
20 to 30 minutes at a gentle simmer is the classic range. Shorter gives a lighter, more gingery cup; longer pulls out more date sweetness. A hard boil is not needed and can make the ginger harsh.
Can I use dried ginger instead of fresh?
Yes. Use about one teaspoon of dried ginger slices or a smaller pinch of ginger powder per cup, and adjust to taste — dried ginger is more concentrated than fresh. Fresh ginger gives a brighter, cleaner heat.
Does ginger jujube tea contain caffeine?
No. Neither ginger nor jujube is tea leaf, so a pot made from just those two is naturally caffeine-free. Check blends that add Camellia sinensis, which would add caffeine.
Can I drink it every day?
Many people drink it as a daily morning or evening cup at culinary strength. It contains no caffeine, and the main thing to track is the natural sugar from the dates — worth counting if you manage blood sugar or carbohydrates.
Can I make a large batch and refrigerate it?
Yes. Brewed ginger jujube tea keeps in the refrigerator for about two to three days. Reheat gently on the stove or sip it cold; shake or stir before drinking because the date sweetness settles.
Sources and further reading
Links to Amazon may be affiliate links. Amazon availability does not mean FDA approval or suitability for every person.