How to Brew Your Own Christmas Teas This Winter

I don't know about you guys but, for us, Christmas is prime tea drinking time. The Santa plates come out of the attic along with all the decorations, and that's when you know that it's acceptable to start sipping from your long since stored Christmas mugs. But whats a Christmas mug without a Christmas tea to accompany it? Well, today I'm going to teach you how to fulfil this demand without breaking the fragile Christmas budget. After all, seasonal tea's can often be just as delicious as the ingredients you have in your house to make them!!

Some things you may need (but check around your house as they are commonly found in your pantry around Christmas time!):

- Spices: Ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, etc. You can find all of these combined in a jar of 'mixed spice' for much cheaper! However, buying the full spice, such as whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, etc, will work better for infusing in large batches and won't leave your tea tasting gritty.

- Fresh Herbs: Peppermint, spearmint, sage, lemongrass, etc. These herbs will add an earthy and refreshing kick to your winter warmers.

- Dried Berries: Cranberries, elderberries, raisins, sultanas, cherries, etc. Whole berries will also work fine for these recipes, but dried berries are usually much cheaper and last longer if you want to make the tea again in the future! 

- A Real Christmas Tree: This of course is optional, but if you do happen to have a real Christmas tree, pine needle tea is quite delicious.

- Citrus Fruits: Lemons, oranges, clementines, etc. Citrus is a typically festive flavour, and the peels and juice both add flavour to your tea.

- Syrups and Sweeteners: Sugar, golden syrup (molasses), maple syrup, etc. Christmas tea's are notoriously sweet, if you like them that way, these are some festive additions you might have around your home at Christmas time.

- Alcohol (optional): Brandy, scotch, bourbon, amaretto, etc. We all love a little tipple at Christmas, these additions might just put you on Santa's naughty list this winter, but its totally worth it!

1. The Mince Pie

Ingredients List: 

- Black Tea

- Mixed, dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, sultanas, cherries, orange and lemon peel)

- Spices (cinnamon and cloves)

- Orange and lemon juice (about a tablespoon of each)

Method:

1. Brew your tea over the stove, in a saucepan. If you are using loose leaf tea, add it straight to the water - we will strain the mixture later. If you are using a tea bag, brew for 2-3 minutes to allow the other flavours to present themselves.

2. Skip this step if you have used loose leaf tea. Remove the Tea bag from the water after the allotted time and prepare your ingredients.

3. Begin by adding the dried fruits (diced) and a teaspoon of peel from an orange and a lemon. Over a low heat, allow the mixture to simmer for 3 minutes.

4. Add in your spices, 1 cinnamon stick and 3 cloves per 2 servings, or half a teaspoon of ground mixed spice. Let this continue to simmer for another 2 minutes. You can also stir in some orange or lemon juice to taste at this stage.

5. Strain and serve into festive glass/mug wear, with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick. Sweeten to taste and enjoy!

Bonus recipe:

Add a splash of brandy to your drink to create The Christmas Pud, a boozy take on The Mince Pie which is sure to please all of your guests this holiday season.

2. Christmas T(r)ea

Ingredients List:

- Green Tea (optional)

- Pine Needles (from your own REAL Christmas tree, or clean and safe ones from a natural pine tree)

- Orange Peel

- Lemon Juice

- Cinnamon (ground or whole)

- Cranberries (optional)

Method: 

1. Prep your pine needles by picking off the greenest and youngest looking needles from the branch (do not use the bark) and remove the brown bottoms of each needle. Wash the needles in a bath of  hot water and lemon juice to kill off any bacteria.

2. If you are not using green tea in this recipe, skip this step. Brew your green tea in a saucepan for 2-3 minutes and remove the leaves from the water.

3. Add your pine needles to a pot of near-boiling water and allow to simmer with the orange peel for 3-4 minutes.

4. Add the cinnamon and brew for another 2 minutes, until the mixture is light in colour and fragrant.

5. Strain and serve into festive glass/mug wear along with a vine of cranberries for garnish or spear some fruits on a cocktail stick and include. Serve and Enjoy!

Include some bourbon or scotch whiskey (whichever you prefer) to create The Spiked Bauble, an intense festive flavour that's sure to get you dancing like Santa this Christmas.

3.Candy Tisane

Ingredients List:

- Black Tea

- Peppermint Leaves or Extract

- Golden Syrup / Molasses

- Orange Juice and Peel

- Nutmeg (crushed or ground)

- A Candy Cane (optional)

Method:

1. Add your black tea to a saucepan and bring to a near-boil, simmering for 2-3 minutes. Remove the leaves for a more intense flavour or include for a more subtle flavour. 

2. Include a generous helping of mint leaves, or a few drops of extract, allowing to simmer for a further 2 minutes.

3. Add the nutmeg, along with a pinch of Orange peel and a tablespoon of juice - adding syrup to sweeten to your liking. Simmer for a final 2 minutes.

4. Serve into festive glass/mug wear (strain only if tea leaves are still included) and add a candy cane along with a slice of orange to garnish. Serve and enjoy!

Bonus Recipe:

Add a dash of Amaretto to this classic to create The Naughty Nutcracker, a minty and nutty drink for a cold winter's night.