Name: Cinnamon Orange Tea
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 1 black tea bag; 10 ounces hot water; 1 mandarin orange, sliced; 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 100% pure honey, to taste

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I love tea and the people who drink it. I also love hearing about what these same individuals are doing while they savor a sip. For example, “I love a warm cup of Earl Grey while I read the most amazing Jane Austen novel.” Clearly a tie between Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion. Or, “At the first sign of a cold, I sip a cup of chamomile tea.” I want to be the first example, but more often than not, I’m the second. And I thought, What is even the matter with me? How can I love tea and geek out over it but never take the time to savor a cup? So I went to work on a new tea recipe. It’s perfect for chilly winter months, novels, and maybe even a cold or two. Cinnamon Orange Tea is HERE, and it is my new lovey.

I seriously cannot even get over how warming and comforting it is. So if you are in the market for a new tea recipe, then let me tell you a little more about this one. First of all, Cinnamon Orange Tea is rooted in a basic black tea. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find. Just black tea. Then I throw in a mandarin orange, which I like to slice rather than peel into wedges. Next I add cinnamon, and finally I top it off with honey to taste. For best results, I suggest working with a cup of steaming hot water and letting the tea, orange slices, cinnamon, and honey steep for about 5-10 minutes before consuming. Those extra minutes allow enough time for the flavors to come alive.

As I worked on the right balance of ingredients for Cinnamon Orange Tea, it dawned on me why I don’t gravitate to store-bought teas on the regular. Even though I crush on the idea 24/7, I like my tea with a little pizzazz. And fresh, natural, gluten-free ingredients are the trick to bringing out the best flavors. Cinnamon Orange Tea is proof that when the ingredients are real, the results are delicious.

So now I am basically in front of the Christmas tree on a weekly basis, getting caught up on my novels. This time it’s Jessica Fletcher murder mysteries, and I’m feeling like a million bucks, while spending mere pennies for this delightful recipe. Because Cinnamon Orange Tea is just awesome like that.