Ingredients – a thumb of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thinly – juice of half a lemon – 1 teaspoon raw honey, or to taste – 250 ml just-boiled water Method Place the ginger slices in a small teapot or large mug. Pour over the just-boiled water and let the ginger steep gently for five minutes — long enough for the water to take on a pale gold colour and the room to smell faintly of warmth. Stir in the lemon juice. Add honey at the very end, after the brew has cooled for a minute, so its goodness is not lost to the heat. Why I keep coming back to this I make this when my throat is scratchy, when my stomach is uneasy, or simply when the afternoon has gone on too long and I need a small ceremony to mark the turning of the day. It costs almost nothing, takes less than ten minutes, and reliably makes me feel that someone is looking after me — even when that someone is only me.