The elder cut the onion crosswise and dropped it into the tea; I remember him with gratitude.
From my earliest years, my grandfather taught me that folk remedies often carry wisdom far older than any modern medication. He used to say that nature hides cures in the simplest places, and that the people who came before us understood this language of the earth far better than we do today. All of his knowledge—an entire treasury of stories, herbs, rituals, and small everyday miracles—had been passed down to him by an old healer who once lived in the same village. The man was known among the locals as a kind of wizard-doctor, someone who understood both the human body and the mysteries of nature.
One of the remedies my grandfather valued most was onion tea. To him, it was not only a household trick but a time-tested cure, something he believed could bring brightness back to a tired body. He would often prepare it for me whenever I showed even the slightest sign of discomfort—be it stomach trouble, a cough, or simple fatigue. And he always prepared it with a sense of quiet ceremony, as if acknowledging the generations who had passed the recipe down.
He believed that onion tea was a wonderful tonic for restoring balance, especially when only one or two people needed it. “It doesn’t take much,” he would say. “Just a single onion, a cup of good black tea, and a little patience.”
Onions are filled with nutrients—vitamins, antioxidants, and natural compounds that support the body. Yet we rarely eat them in a way that allows us to take full advantage of their benefits. Their strong taste and smell often scare people away. Without realizing it, we deny ourselves the very nutrients that could help strengthen us. That’s why this tea, mild yet potent, was his preferred way of unlocking the onion’s healing qualities.
Today, I want to share the same preparation process with you. Try making it yourself, even once, and you may be surprised by how effective such a simple remedy can be. Many people claim it works wonders for digestion, supports regular bowel movements, and helps break down stubborn mucus during colds or coughs.
Ingredients You Will Need
To prepare onion tea, gather the following:
1 whole onion
200 ml of black tea
(Optional) A small spoon of natural honey or a few mint leaves, which can soften the flavor and add pleasant aroma.
How to Prepare the Tea
Peel and wash the onion.
Make sure it is clean and free from any outer skin that might affect the taste.
Cut the onion crosswise—but not all the way through.
The onion should remain in one piece, with the cuts allowing its juices to seep into the tea without falling apart completely.
Brew a simple cup of black tea.
It should be hot and strong enough to extract the onion’s natural oils.
Place the onion into the cup of hot tea.
Let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the flavors and healing compounds to infuse the liquid.
Remove the onion and enjoy the drink while warm.
You can drink this tea at any time you feel discomfort in your stomach or intestines.
Why People Use This Remedy
According to my grandfather—and many who practice traditional healing—this method can help:
Relieve abdominal pain
Reduce digestive irregularities
Improve bowel movements
Ease bronchial congestion
Soften coughs and help mucus drain naturally
The warmth of the tea calms the stomach, while the onion releases sulfur-rich compounds thought to support the respiratory system. Many people say that if you drink this tea at night, it also soothes the nerves, helping the body relax and making it easier to fall asleep.
Even though it’s a simple village remedy, it has long been used as a preventative measure against bronchitis and seasonal colds. My grandfather would drink one cup before bed for six or seven days, then take a short break. He insisted that regular use helped strengthen the immune system and maintain internal balance.
I still remember one charming detail he used to mention with a smile:
“The onion always stands upside down in the cup.”
As a child, I would watch it bob and tilt in the hot liquid, and somehow this tiny, almost magical sight made the remedy feel even more special.
A Memory Wrapped in Warm Tea
Today, whenever I prepare this tea, I can almost see my grandfather again—his careful hands cutting the onion, the calm way he moved, the gentle seriousness with which he treated every small ritual. He believed that healing required not only ingredients, but intention. And whenever he prepared the tea for me, it felt like an act of love, a silent promise that everything would be all right.
I remember him with gratitude—not just for the tea, but for the wisdom he passed down, for the stories of the old healer, and for the belief that solutions can often be found in nature, waiting quietly for those who take the time to look.
So if you ever feel the need for a simple, comforting remedy, try preparing onion tea the way he taught me. You might find not only relief, but also a moment of calm—a small connection to the timeless knowledge carried through generations.
And if you want to support your immune system even further, there are many other gentle natural methods worth exploring. Some of them may surprise you with how effective they are.
