Orange Peel Tea: Recipe, Detox Claims and Safety

Orange peel tea is a caffeine-free drink made by steeping orange peel in water; this cold-steeped recipe takes 2 hours 5 minutes and makes about 1 cup (240 mL).

What is orange peel tea?

Orange peel tea is an infusion that draws citrus flavor from the outer peel of an orange. It can be served warm or cold; this recipe uses a refrigerated steep and is served cold.

Unlike tea made from tea leaves, orange peel tea contains no caffeine unless another caffeinated ingredient is added. It is one option among drinks often described as herbal detox tea, although its main established benefit is providing fluid.

The colored outer peel gives the drink its citrus aroma. The white layer underneath, called the pith, can make the flavor more bitter, especially if the peel is left in the water for a long time.

How do you make orange peel tea?

Yield: About 1 cup (240 mL)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Steep time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

240 mL (1 cup) drinking water
5 g (about 1/8 cup, loosely packed) thin strips of fresh orange peel

Instructions

Wash an orange under cool running water and gently scrub its surface. Do not use soap.
Peel thin strips from the colored outer layer, leaving as much of the white pith behind as practical. Measure about 5 g (1/8 cup) of peel.
Place the orange peel in a covered container with the water. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Strain out the orange peel and serve the orange peel tea cold. For a stronger flavor, you can steep it for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator, but longer contact with the pith can make it bitter.

For another combination, try the AI detox recipe generator.

Use an orange sold for eating, rather than decorative citrus or peel treated with products not intended for food. Strain the peel promptly after steeping; leaving citrus peel in the water can make the flavor increasingly bitter.

Keep prepared orange peel tea refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

What does orange peel tea do for detox?

Orange peel tea supports hydration, but it has not been shown to speed up detoxification. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification; the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Sweat removes only trace amounts of some unwanted substances.

Drinking enough fluid helps the body function normally, including the organs that handle waste. Orange peel tea is a way to make water more appealing, not a substitute for those organs or a treatment for an illness.

Raw orange peel contains nutrients, but the amounts in the whole peel do not describe what is in a strained drink. For example, 100 g of raw orange peel contains 136 mg of vitamin C and 10.6 g of fiber; much of the fiber remains in the peel when it is strained out. The amount of vitamin C in this cup of orange peel tea is not established by those figures.

How much orange peel tea should you drink, and when?

There is no established detox dose or required time of day for orange peel tea. The recipe makes one serving of about 1 cup (240 mL), which you can drink whenever it fits your usual fluid routine.

Start with one serving if you are unsure how citrus affects you. If a healthcare professional has advised you to limit fluids, count orange peel tea toward that limit and follow their guidance.

What are the side effects of orange peel tea?

Avoid orange peel tea if you have an orange or citrus allergy. Seek urgent medical help if you develop symptoms such as trouble breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat after consuming it.

Citrus may bother some people who experience acid reflux or an irritated stomach. If orange peel tea causes discomfort, stop drinking it and speak with a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or are concerning.

Washing the orange helps remove surface dirt, though washing does not guarantee removal of every residue. Use clean utensils and a clean covered container, refrigerate the tea while it steeps, and avoid using peel that is damaged or moldy.

Orange peel tea FAQs

Orange peel tea can be served cold as prepared or poured over ice after straining. Keeping it unsweetened lets the citrus flavor stand on its own and avoids added sugar.