Spiced with cloves and cinnamon and rounded out with a combination of fruit juices, this recipe for Homemade Christmas Tea is a festive warming beverage that is perfect for the holidays.
2tablespoonsfresh lemon juice(about 1 large lemon)
Instructions
In a large pan, combine 8 cups of water with the sugar, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes or until the sugar is fully dissolved, stirring occasionally.
Remove the mixture from the heat, and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep in the hot water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, strain off the cloves, cinnamon, and tea bags.
Stir in an additional 8 cups of cold water, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and fresh lemon juice.
Let the tea chill to room temperature then transfer it to pitchers or empty water jugs. Chill for at least 24 hours before serving.
Serve the Christmas Tea chilled or warm. To warm a large batch of Christmas tea, pour the chilled tea into a slow cooker and heat on low for 2-3 hours. Once the tea is warm, turn the slow cooker to warm and keep it on warm for serving. Alternatively, warm by individual serving in the microwave.
Notes
Sugar: The original recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar. I personally prefer using only ½ cup of sugar for tea that is just kissed with sweetness, rather than overly sweet. If you like sweet tea, use a full cup of sugar. Black Tea: I recommend using decaffeinated black tea so that this tea can be enjoyed by children and at any point in the day.Doubling: This recipe can easily be doubled for a large gathering or just for more to enjoy throughout the holiday season. Storage: Christmas Tea will keep for 10 days in the refrigerator.