When the weather gets cold, we are all about the warm drinks around here. Spizzie and I have been known to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate (extra marshmallows please) or a steaming mug of peppermint tea. The Super Trooper is pretty much a coffee drinker, but he does dabble occasionally in wassail and mulled cider. The boys only like tea if it’s cold and sweet, but they do enjoy the ciders and chocolates and all manner of concoctions that come from the coffee shops.
Christmas Tea is another one of those I-learned-it-from-my-grandma recipes. There are dozens of similar recipes floating around, but however you make it, it is a nice treat to have on those cold winter days. It also makes a very thoughtful and inexpensive gift. Give it alone or add it to a basket with a new mug and some baked goodies!
Christmas Tea
1 Cup powdered orange drink mix (Tang or something similar)
2/3 Cup dry instant tea*
1/2 Cup sugar
2 Tablespoons powdered lemonade mix
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon powdered cloves
Add all of the ingredients together in a bowl, large container, or gallon-size plastic zipper bag. Mix well. To serve: Add 1 Tablespoon per mug of hot water. Stir and enjoy!
*The only instant tea I could find had added lemon. I couldn’t tell that it changed the flavor all that much, but you could always use less lemonade or add more cinnamon and cloves.
That’s it for this recipe. It’s really that simple. There is generally enough mix to completely fill a pint jar and you may have a little leftover. The jars I used are small jelly jars (not sure of the exact size) and I believe it will fill three. In the past, I have also put the mix in small snack size plastic bags and put those inside of a decorated paper bag–just something inexpensive that you can make look cute!
Do you have any favorite gift recipes?
