Orange Cranberry Spiced Tea (Printable)

Fragrant tea with fresh orange, cranberries, and warming spices for cozy moments.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fruits & Juices

01 - 1 large orange, sliced
02 - 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
03 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

→ Tea & Sweeteners

04 - 4 cups water
05 - 2 black tea bags (or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea, in an infuser)
06 - 2–3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (to taste)

→ Spices

07 - 2 cinnamon sticks
08 - 4 whole cloves
09 - 1 star anise (optional)

# How-to Steps:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine water, cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
02 - Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until cranberries soften and release color.
03 - Add black tea bags and steep for 3–5 minutes, depending on desired strength.
04 - Remove tea bags, then stir in orange juice and honey or maple syrup. Simmer for 2 more minutes.
05 - Strain tea into a teapot or heatproof pitcher, discarding solids. Serve hot, garnished with extra orange slices or cranberries if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole house smells incredible while it simmers, like captured winter evenings in a pot
  • It comes together in 20 minutes but tastes like something you fussed over for hours
  • Perfect for guests who don't drink alcohol but still want something special and warming
02 -
  • Don't let the tea bags steep too long or they'll make everything bitter, and no amount of honey can fix that
  • The cranberries need to actually burst open to release their color, so give them the full simmering time
  • This tastes even better the next day, so feel free to make it ahead and reheat gently
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create long orange curls instead of slices for a more elegant presentation
  • If serving a crowd, set up a small station with honey, extra orange slices, and cinnamon sticks so guests can customize their cups

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