How to Make a Cinnamon Spice Black Tea Blend

I love making my own tea blends. I drink tea of all kinds--black tea, herbal tea, green tea, white tea--and more often than not, I add my own flavors to the basics.



The following is a versatile blend that includes orange and cinnamon, which makes it perfect as a winter tea, a holiday tea or for any time of year. You can pair it with warm apple pie in the winter or serve it iced with or without orange juice as a warm-day refresher.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup black tea leaves
• 1 tsp. cinnamon chips
• 1 tsp. dried, crushed orange peel
• Nutmeg (optional)
• Rubber mallet or sturdy glass
• Small mixing bowl
• Airtight container

1. Make your own cinnamon chips by smacking at a cinnamon stick with a rubber mallet or the bottom of a sturdy glass.

2. Combine tea leaves, cinnamon chips and crushed orange peel in the mixing bowl.

3. Transfer to the airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.

4. To prepare a cup of tea, use 1 tsp. for each cup of hot water. Steep for 5 minutes. Garnish with cinnamon stick, if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you strain the leaves out before drinking. Leaving them in can make the tea bitter.

• Add a dash of nutmeg to the tea as it steeps to intensify the flavor.

• Make sure you aren't allergic to any of the ingredients.