5 Comforting Autumnal Tea Recipes Made From Scratch

It’s the season for snuggling up with a hot drink and watching the chilly world outside go by.  Often an indulgent cup of hot chocolate is on the cards or a spiced latte, but sometimes all you need is a comforting cup of tea.

Almost all of the spices and flavors of the season, such as clove, cinnamon, apple, and ginger work beautifully in herbal teas that you can easily make at home.  Many of these spices are excellent for warming our insides and helping to increase circulation on cold days. You don’t have to go buying specialty boxed tea from the supermarket when you can be conjuring up tea potions in your own kitchen.

Some of these recipes are purely caffeine-free while others give you the option of adding in your favorite black or green tea bag. These recipes are quite versatile and allow you to play around with quantities until you find the flavors that work best for you. It mostly requires the simple act of brewing tea, fruits, and/or spices in hot water until you gain the desired depth of flavor.  Grab your favorite mug, sit back and enjoy.

1. Spiced Apple Tea

This is a great recipe if you are looking for something a little fruity.  It’s a great one for the kids, too.

Add a cup of water, a cup of apple juice, a few cloves, a cinnamon stick, some apple slices, and sweetener to a pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, turn off the heat and add two tea bags, black or green, and allow them to steep for three to five minutes.  This recipe serves two people or gives you one big mug of spiced apple tea.  You can also add a couple of slices of apple to the mug for fun.

2. Cranberry and Apple Tea

This tea is sweet and tart and is full of autumnal flavors.  It is a great tea to have in the mornings instead of a caffeinated drink.

For two cups of tea, add one cup of water, half a cup of apple juice, and half a cup of cranberry juice to a pot and bring it to a boil.  While it is boiling add a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, a squeeze of lemon juice, and sugar to taste.  Take it off the heat and add two black or green tea bags.

3. Cardamom and Ginger Tea

Gloria Cabada-Leman

Cardamom is such a wonderfully warming spice.  It is also very good for oral health so chewing on the stray cardamom pod can’t be bad.  This is a completely caffeine-free beverage.

Bring a cup and a half of water to a boil and reduce to a simmer.  Then, add three to four cardamom pods and a few slices of fresh ginger.  Allow the spices to simmer for ten minutes.  The longer you leave the spices in the water, the stronger your tea will be.  You can add a squeeze of lemon and a sweetener of your choice.  This drink is very nice served with your favorite plant-based milk chai-style.

4. Mulled Tea

Here is a lovely recipe for a festive tea that gives you all the smells and flavors of mulled wine but, well, without the alcohol!  This is certainly a cozy one.

Bring two cups of water to boil then reduce the heat to a simmer.  Then, add one or two cinnamon sticks, four or five cloves, a teaspoon of dried orange peel as well as a slice or two of fresh orange. Add sweetener to taste. Allow this to simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes.  Bring the pot off the stove and add two of your favorite black tea bags and let them steep for three to five minutes.  Sit back, inhale the wonderful aromas, and enjoy.

5. Autumnal Herbal Tea

Drew Tyre/Flickr

You can make a big batch of this tea and store it in a jar to have on hand whenever to fancy a cuppa, or you can just make up enough for one cup.  Combine cinnamon, dried ginger, cardamom pods, dried chicory root, peppercorns, star anise, and cloves in a bowl and pour the mixture into a jar.  When you want a cup of this deliciously spicy tea, add a heaped teaspoon per cup of the mixture to hot water and let it steep.

Related Content:

• Tea Time: The Health Reasons Why You Should Pick Up the Habit This Fall
• 10 Autumnal Scones for a Cozy Afternoon Tea
• 10 Organic Ashwagandha Supplements, Powders, and Teas
• Grow Your Own Tea Plant at Home

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