Clove Tea for respiratory health: How to make it and 4 ingredients to add to gain maximum benefits

Delhi’s air quality plunged to “hazardous” levels on Friday morning, with the city recording an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 727, according to data from Swiss monitor IQ Air. And as the pollution levels are rising, respiratory health has become a growing concern for people of the national capital. As per experts, this prolonged exposure to polluted air is resulting in breathing difficulties, coughing, throat irritation, and reduced lung capacity. Hence, it is important to take extra care of respiratory health, and one of the simplest remedies is to consume clove tea at home. It can be easily made too. From Ayurveda to medical science, they all consider cloves a catalyst that can help boost respiratory health. Scroll down to read the details.

In Ayurveda, clove is known as a powerful healing spice known for its ushna (warming) and kapha-balancing properties. It helps clear congestion, relieve cough, and support overall respiratory wellness. It is rich in the natural compound called eugenol that acts as potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant agents, helping to open airways and ease breathing. Ayurveda often combines cloves with herbs like tulsi, ginger, black pepper, and mulethi to create powerful remedies that strengthen respiratory health naturally.

According to a Research Gate report titled Clove Based Herbal Tea: Development, Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Property, it is said that clove was added to a few varieties of green and black tea in different quantities to formulate herbal tea that has excellent health-promoting therapeutic activity. Phytochemical and antioxidant properties were analysed along with their antimicrobial activity. The results highlighted that the herbal preparation of tea + clove, when mixed in very high concentration (1000mg), contained the highest amount of phenolic content mg/GAE (1007.25 ± 1.75) , flavonoid content mg/CE (158.17 ± 2.14) free radical scavenging capacity in terms of % inhibition (96.81 ± 0.16) along with enhanced antimicrobial property with respect to the others. Hence, we it was concluded that drinking tea mixed with clove can surely be a choice of medicinal beverage.
Another study titled Molecular Basis of the Therapeutical Potential of Clove published by PCM states that clove acts as a natural expectorant, helping to loosen and expel mucus from the lungs, which is particularly beneficial in chronic bronchitis and mucus buildup, thereby clearing airways and improving breathing. Interestingly, traditional medicines have also used clove since ancient times to treat respiratory ailments. Those studies whilst clove as an ingredient that shows antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Other interesting features of cloves are antithrombotic, immunostimulatory, and antibacterial effects.

Ingredients required: 4–5 whole cloves, 1 cup water, ½ inch fresh ginger, 1 small piece cinnamon, 2 black peppercorns, 1 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Method: In a pan, bring 1 cup of water to a gentle boil. Add cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and black peppercorn. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until the water turns aromatic and slightly reduced. Strain the tea into a cup. Add honey or lemon juice once it cools slightly. Sip warm, once or twice a day.

According to a study titled Ginger and its bioactive component 6-shogaol mitigate lung inflammation in a murine asthma model, it is said that ginger and its active components, including 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol, directly relax airway smooth muscle (ASM). This bronchodilatory effect helps in easing airway constriction, which is beneficial for conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ayurveda regards ginger as a universal medicine that kindles agni (digestive fire) and brings balance to the body, making it an essential part of daily wellness. It stimulates digestive enzymes, relieves bloating, and helps with nausea or indigestion, making it a great post-meal remedy.

In the study titled Beneficial Effects of Cinnamon on the Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, and Pain, and Mechanisms Underlying These Effects – A Review, it is said that antifungal effects of cinnamon makes it good for respiratory health. It states the antifungal activity of cinnamaldehyde, which is used as a vapor to treat respiratory tract mycoses, has been reported. The inhalation of cinnamaldehyde appears to be an ideal chemotherapy against respiratory tract mycoses. Regular consumption may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides while maintaining HDL (good) cholesterol.

As per a study titled Neuroprotective Effects of Black Pepper and Its Bioactive Compounds in Age-Related Neurological Disorders, published by PMC, black pepper is one of the most used spices in the world. It is a good stimulant and a carminative, which is useful for treating diarrhea, constipation, cholera, gonorrhea, chronic malaria, tongue paralysis, and viral hepatitis. It is also commonly used to treat spleen diseases, bronchitis, and respiratory infections. And , the fruits of black pepper have various biological activities, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, and neuroprotective effects.

The study titled Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research has mentioned that according to modern scientific literature, honey may be useful and has protective effects for the treatment of various disease conditions such as diabetes mellitus, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, even it is useful in cancer treatment because many types of antioxidant are present in honey. However, it is best to consume in moderation to reap the benefits of this drink, as overconsumption of clove may result in irritating the intestinal lining and may trigger gastric issues or discomfort.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article—is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.