Top 10 Drinks to Keep You Warm in the Winter

Lemon Honey Tea has long been a nutritious and health-boosting drink, highly effective in supporting the treatment of respiratory issues. Not only that, it is also an excellent beverage to keep you warm during the cold winter months. The chilly winter air can cause discomfort and make you more prone to sore throats, so lemon honey tea is the perfect choice for you. The combination of lemon and honey is highly praised for its antibacterial properties and antioxidant effects that help strengthen the immune system. Lemon honey tea is a nourishing drink that supports respiratory health and keeps you warm on cold days.

How to make lemon honey tea:

• Green tea leaves:
  • Soak the leaves in a weak saltwater solution for 15 minutes, then rinse them thoroughly with cold water. After draining, gently crush the leaves and place them in a pot.
  • Boil water, pour just enough hot water to rinse the tea leaves, which helps remove the strong aroma and cleanse the leaves. Then, add 200ml of hot water, cover the pot, and let it steep for 20 minutes. Pour the green tea into a large glass cup. The green tea should have a clear, vibrant color.

• Fresh lemon:
  • Wash the lemon, squeeze the juice from one, and slice the other into thin rounds.
  • In a cup, add a tablespoon of rock sugar, a tablespoon of honey, and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Stir well, adjusting the amount of sugar or lemon juice to suit your taste. Add a few lemon slices to the cup for extra flavor and visual appeal. Garnish the rim of the glass with a slice of lemon, and your delicious lemon honey tea is ready to enjoy. It’s that simple!

Coffee contains a rich blend of lipids, proteins, caffeine, and essential minerals that enhance brain function, reduce stress, boost alertness, and stimulate creativity. Coffee has become a popular drink among many. However, it’s better to avoid iced coffee in the winter; instead, a hot cup of coffee will be much better for your body.

If you’re a fan of creamy drinks, you can add milk to make a delicious cup of milk coffee that suits your taste. However, since coffee contains caffeine, you should limit your intake to avoid insomnia, anxiety, and stress. Many people brew coffee with boiling water, but according to experts, the best coffee is made with water heated to 92-93°C. Boiling water can extract too much bitterness from the coffee. Brewing coffee with water at a slightly lower temperature brings out a balanced, mildly acidic, and sweet flavor.

Another familiar beverage on this list is soy milk, which is rich in protein and vitamins, helping to lower bad cholesterol, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and provide antioxidant benefits. Soy milk also has beauty-enhancing properties and can support weight loss, especially for women. Delicious and nutritious, a cup of soy milk on a chilly day is sure to satisfy you.

How to make soy milk:

• Select large, evenly-sized soybeans, remove any damaged ones, and soak them in cold water for 6 to 8 hours to allow the beans to expand (soaking overnight is ideal).
• Once the beans have expanded, place them in a blender with a bit of water and blend until smooth. If you have a large amount of beans, it’s best to blend in batches for a smoother texture.
• Use a cheesecloth, nut milk bag, or strainer to filter out the bean pulp and keep only the soy milk. You can strain the milk again to remove any remaining solids.
• Pour the filtered soy milk into a pot and cook it over low heat. Stir constantly to prevent the milk from burning, and reduce the heat further as it starts to boil to prevent it from spilling over.
• Once the milk is ready, you can add sugar if desired and drink it hot, or let it cool and enjoy it with ice or store it in the fridge for later use.

Corn milk (also known as corn juice) is packed with starch and rich in vitamins such as A, B, B1, B5, and B3, which help improve brain function, support eye health, and benefit bones and the cardiovascular system. It also contains vitamin E, which is excellent for skin health, making it especially beneficial for women. Since corn milk is high in starch, it is also a top choice for those looking to gain weight. A warm cup of corn milk in the morning during winter will give you plenty of energy to start the day.

How to make corn milk:

• Remove the husks and silk from the corn cobs, keeping the young husks, and wash them thoroughly before bundling them up.
• Boil the corn and husks for 20 minutes to extract the sweet corn water. Be sure to cook the corn just right, as overcooking can make it difficult to separate the kernels.
• After boiling, allow the corn to cool, then remove the kernels and set aside the boiled water.
• Blend the corn kernels with 1.5 liters of water, mixing in both the boiled water and some cooled, boiled water.
• Strain the mixture to separate the liquid from the pulp.
• Bring the filtered liquid to a boil with 200ml of fresh milk, stirring constantly to prevent burning—this is a crucial step to ensure the milk’s quality.
• Once the milk starts to simmer, add sugar to taste, continuing to stir until it dissolves, and the milk becomes smooth and creamy.
• Turn off the heat and let it cool.

Chocolate originated in Central America and has become a beloved treat in Vietnam, especially among the younger generation. It contains flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that help prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Hot chocolate not only warms you up during cold winter days but also helps you relax and unwind.

Drinking hot chocolate daily can enhance brain function and improve blood flow to the brain, boosting memory. A cup of hot chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which help alleviate stress and depression.

If you have artery issues, hot chocolate is excellent for your vascular health, as it helps lower blood pressure and supports those at risk of heart disease. For those aiming to lose weight, hot chocolate is a great choice as it curbs appetite and contains minimal sugar, making it ideal for weight management. So, why not enjoy a cup with friends at a café, or even prepare it yourself at home using the recipe below?

How to make hot chocolate:

• Start by adding 1-2 teaspoons of sugar and 1-2 teaspoons of chocolate powder into a clean cup, depending on your preference for sweetness or strength of flavor.
• Pour hot water into the mixture and stir well with a spoon to blend everything together.
• If you prefer a richer taste, you can add condensed milk and stir it in.
• Place the cup of hot chocolate in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, then remove and enjoy while still hot.

A warm cup of milk before bed or upon waking is great for your respiratory system and helps keep your body warm. Milk is rich in calcium, and its protein content aids in burning excess fat. Additionally, milk contains several vitamins that boost your immune system and protect you from common winter illnesses such as colds and runny noses.

Hot milk consumed at night can also help combat insomnia. Milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan that promotes sleep, especially when the milk is warm. Drinking warm milk relaxes your muscles and helps you sleep better. During the cold winter months, it's best to heat the milk before drinking to avoid feeling chilly and to maintain your health. However, make sure to heat it correctly to prevent nutrient loss.

For boxed milk, simply immerse the carton in hot water for about 15 minutes before use. For fresh milk, the best method is to heat it in a double boiler. This method preserves the important nutrients in the milk and prevents the protein from burning. Be careful not to overheat the milk—bring it to a boil and then stop to retain its nutritional value. Avoid pouring freshly heated milk into a thermos, as the high temperature can cause it to spoil, ferment, and potentially cause digestive issues or stomach pain.

Scientific studies have shown that orange juice is excellent for cooling the body as it contains fructose and a high water content (85%), which quenches thirst, rehydrates, and replenishes the body. It also provides many health benefits, especially vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and helps combat fatigue. As a result, during the summer months, a refreshing glass of orange juice can not only provide essential nutrients but also invigorate the mind and body.

While we typically drink orange juice in the summer for hydration, it might surprise you to learn that hot orange juice is also great for your health in winter. Hot orange juice helps replenish vitamin C, improves vision, stimulates the olfactory and nervous systems, and sends signals to other organs in the body. The fragrance of orange also has a calming effect on your mood.

To make the perfect cup of hot orange juice, it's essential to select the right oranges. Look for those with thin, fresh skin and plenty of juice. A helpful tip is to check the stem end of the orange; if the stem is firmly attached and the leaves are either fresh or slightly withered but still clinging to the fruit, it's a sign that the orange is fresh and juicy. Alternatively, you can gently squeeze the orange—if it releases some oil, it’s a good choice.

Preparation:

• First, wash the oranges thoroughly, then place them in the microwave for 30 seconds. This helps release some of the essential oils from the peel and softens the fruit for easier juicing.
• Cut the orange in half horizontally, squeeze out the juice into a cup, and optionally add the pulp (or skip this step if you prefer not to have pulp).
• Add sugar to the cup and stir until dissolved, then add warm water to finish off the juice.
• For an extra touch, slice a few additional orange wedges for garnish or add a sprig of mint to enhance the flavor.

Ginger is a herb with numerous health benefits, containing antioxidants, calcium, vitamins, and minerals that help warm the body, reduce pain, fight inflammation, soothe the mind, and support digestion. It is a fantastic winter drink, and a cup of hot ginger tea will keep you warm, alert, and healthy on cold days.

Preparation: Making ginger tea is simple: Boil a cup of water, add 4-6 thin slices of ginger, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Pour into a cup, add a bit of honey, and enjoy.

How to Use: It is best to drink ginger tea while it’s still hot, sipping it slowly and leisurely in the morning or evening for optimal health benefits.

Tip: To save time, you can prepare a batch of ginger-honey water and store it in a glass jar in the fridge. When you need it, just mix it with a tea bag for a quick and delicious ginger tea every day.

Benefits: Regularly drinking ginger tea helps improve blood circulation and boosts the immune system.

In traditional medicine, chamomile is known for its sweet, slightly bitter taste and cooling properties. It is used to cool the body, detoxify, cleanse the liver, calm the mind, and improve eye health. Both fresh and dried chamomile flowers have been used for centuries as a natural remedy. Chamomile tea is also an excellent remedy for insomnia, with a cup before bedtime helping to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.

There are many varieties of chamomile, including golden chamomile, daisies, and large-flower varieties, but the most commonly used for tea are the small white or yellow flowers, harvested in the fall when they first bloom. The aroma and taste of the tea may vary depending on the variety. After harvesting, the flowers are cleaned, dried, and then stored in a cool, dry place.

Chamomile flowers can be combined with honey, artichoke, licorice, or red dates for a refreshing tea that helps cool the body, reduce fever, detoxify, and support liver health. Drinking chamomile tea regularly also helps reduce blood fat, eliminate excess fat, and assist in weight loss.

How to Make Honey Chamomile Tea:

• After drying the chamomile flowers, store them in an airtight glass jar for later use.
• Place the flowers in a cup and rinse with warm water. Then, pour in hot water, cover, and let it steep for 3 minutes.
• For a better taste, enjoy with lotus seed jam and add honey to the tea.
• The yellow color of the chamomile tea, combined with the fragrance of honey and the floral scent, will warm your body, relieve stress, and promote a restful sleep.

Green tea is a popular drink in Vietnam and is known for its many health benefits. It is rich in vitamins that have anti-inflammatory properties, boost immunity, and help prevent colds. Green tea also reduces stress, fights aging, and provides an energy boost.

Not only is green tea beneficial for health, but it is also beloved for its distinctive flavor that brings a rich and meaningful experience to those who enjoy it. While brewing green tea is simple, making it perfectly requires some know-how. It is best to drink green tea in the morning, as consuming it in the evening may cause sleep disruption. Also, it’s best to drink it warm, not too hot.

How to Brew Green Tea:

• Soak the tea leaves in water, rinse them thoroughly to remove any dust, and let them soak for about 10 minutes before draining.
• Boil water to 100°C, then use it to pre-warm the teapot or cup.
• Gently bruise the tea leaves so they bend but avoid crushing them.
• Place the tea leaves into the teapot, add two slices of fresh ginger, then pour half a liter of hot water over the tea to rinse it, then discard this water.
• Pour the remaining hot water into the teapot, and let the tea steep for about 20 minutes without covering the pot.
• For a cooler and clearer brew, add ice cubes after the tea has steeped. The result is a fragrant and clear green tea, fresh and delicious!