Winter Spice Tea Blend (Printable Version)

A fragrant blend of winter spices and black tea delivering soothing warmth and rich flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Loose Leaf Tea

01 - 2 tablespoons black tea leaves (Assam or Darjeeling)

→ Spices

02 - 2 cinnamon sticks
03 - 6 whole cloves
04 - 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
05 - 1 star anise
06 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
07 - ½ teaspoon black peppercorns

→ Optional Additions

08 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon dried orange peel
10 - Milk or plant-based milk, to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine 4 cups of water with cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, sliced ginger, black peppercorns, and dried orange peel if using.
02 - Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the spices.
03 - Add the black tea leaves and continue simmering for 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Remove from heat and strain the tea into a teapot or heatproof jug.
05 - Sweeten with honey or maple syrup if desired, add milk or plant-based milk to taste, then serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary evenings into something special with just five minutes of prep and a pot of simmering water
  • The blend is naturally caffeine-flexible, so you can enjoy it any time of day without guilt
  • It's the kind of gift you can actually make and share, impressing people without pretension
  • Every sip tastes like someone cared enough to blend spices specifically for your comfort
02 -
  • Fresh ginger makes a noticeable difference—ground ginger feels flat by comparison. If you only have ground, use half the amount and accept that you're making a different (but still lovely) tea.
  • The order matters: spices first for 5 minutes, then tea leaves for just 2-3 minutes. Reverse this or extend the tea steep time, and you'll end up with an unpleasantly bitter cup that tastes nothing like what you intended.
  • Whole spices stay fresher longer than ground. If your spice tin has been open for six months, your tea will taste tired. Freshness is everything here.
03 -
  • Crushing cardamom pods just slightly before adding them releases their essential oils, deepening the flavor significantly. This one small action transforms the entire cup.
  • If you prefer stronger spice character, simmer the spices for 7 minutes instead of 5, but keep the tea steep time at exactly 2-3 minutes—this prevents bitterness while deepening warmth.

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