Description
This Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea is a refreshing and flavorful summer beverage, combining the boldness of black tea with the zesty brightness of fresh orange slices and the warm spice of cinnamon. Sweetened with honey and served chilled over ice, it’s a perfect thirst quencher for hot days.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 8 cups water
- 4 black tea bags (or 4 tablespoons loose leaf black tea)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Flavors & Sweeteners
- 1 large orange, sliced
- 1/4 cup honey (or more, to taste)
For Serving
- Ice cubes
- Orange slices, for garnish (optional)
- Cinnamon sticks, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Water: In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat to prepare the base for your tea.
- Add Tea and Spices: Remove the pot from heat and add the tea bags or loose leaf tea along with the cinnamon sticks, making sure the tea bags are fully submerged.
- Infuse Tea: Cover the pot and steep the tea and cinnamon for 5-7 minutes, aiming for about 6 minutes for a balanced flavor extraction.
- Add Orange Slices: Add the sliced orange into the pot, gently pressing them to release their juice and infuse extra citrus aroma into the tea.
- Continue Infusing: Cover and let the mixture infuse for another 15-20 minutes, or up to 30 minutes if a stronger flavor is preferred.
- Remove Tea Bags and Spices: Take out the tea bags and cinnamon sticks, gently squeezing the tea bags to extract any remaining liquid, then discard these ingredients.
- Strain Orange Slices: Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth-lined colander to remove the orange slices, discarding them afterward.
- Add Honey: While the tea is still warm, stir in the honey until it dissolves completely. Start with 1/4 cup and adjust sweetness to your liking.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the tea and add more honey if needed to reach your preferred sweetness level.
- Cool Tea: Allow the tea to cool down to room temperature naturally.
- Refrigerate (Optional): For best flavor, refrigerate the tea for at least 2 hours or ideally overnight.
- Prepare Glasses: Fill serving glasses with ice cubes to chill your drink perfectly.
- Pour Iced Tea: Pour the chilled tea over the ice-filled glasses.
- Garnish (Optional): Add orange slices and cinnamon sticks as garnishes for an attractive presentation and added aroma.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing summer beverage!
Notes
- Using loose leaf tea instead of bags can result in a richer brew.
- Adjust steeping times to control tea strength and flavor intensity.
- Honey amount can be customized based on sweetness preference.
- For a caffeine-free version, substitute black tea with rooibos or herbal tea.
- Adding fresh mint leaves as garnish can add a refreshing twist.
