Sweet Spiced Tea

Name: Sweet Spiced Tea
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 3 quarts.
Ingredients: 3 cinnamon sticks (3 inches); 2 orange peel strips (1 to 3 inches); 12 whole cloves; 12 whole allspice; 3 quarts water; 12 bags orange-flavored black tea; 2/3 cup honey; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; Orange slices, optional

Welcome guests in from the cold at Christmas with this honey-laden hot tea from our Test Kitchen. If you don't have orange-flavored tea, regular tea can be used with equally good results.

Ingredients

3 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)
2 orange peel strips (1 to 3 inches)
12 whole cloves
12 whole allspice
3 quarts water
12 bags orange-flavored black tea
2/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Orange slices, optional

Directions

Place the cinnamon sticks, orange peel, cloves and allspice on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Bring up corners of cloth; tie with string to form a bag. Place water and spice bag in a large kettle or Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add tea bags; cover and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags.
Add honey and lemon juice to tea; bring to a boil. Discard spice bag. Serve tea in mugs. Garnish with orange slices if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 61 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch.

Originally published as Spiced Tea in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2006