Spiced Citrus Tea Food

CITRUS SPICED TEA

Steps:

• In a large kettle or Dutch oven, bring water to a simmer; turn off heat. Add tea bags, cover and steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove and discard bags. , In a bowl, dissolve sugar in boiling water. Add cinnamon sticks and cloves; cover and steep for 15 minutes. Add concentrates and pineapple juice; mix well. Strain and discard spices. Stir into tea; heat through. Serve with cinnamon sticks for stirrers if desired.

GRILLED CITRUS SPIKED LEMONADE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• Combine the lemons, limes and oranges in a medium bowl and toss with 1/4 cup of the sugar to coat. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt.
• Place the fruit, cut-side down, on the grill; cook until dark brown grill marks appear, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate and let cool. Cut 2 lemon halves into slices and set aside for garnish.
• Combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar with 2 cups water in a saucepot over medium heat. Cook until the sugar is fully melted, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Pour the sugar syrup into a pitcher and add the basil leaves. Juice the grilled citrus through a strainer into the pitcher. Add vodka to taste, if using. Stir, add ice, and garnish with the reserved lemon slices. Serve cold.

CITRUS ICED TEA

Steps:

• Make the tea with 1.2 litres water and the sugar. Add mint to the pot and infuse for 10 mins. Strain and cool.
• Pour into a jug, stir in the juices and serve with orange slices, mint and plenty of ice.

HOT SPICED TEA FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Steps:

• Pour water into a pot; add cloves and cinnamon stick. Bring water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags to water and set aside to steep until the tea is to your preferred strength, at least 5 minutes. Remove and discard cloves, cinnamon stick, and tea bags.
• Stir orange juice, sugar, pineapple juice, and lemon juice together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook and stir the juice mixture until the sugar dissolves completely. Pour juice mixture into the spiced tea; serve hot.

SPICED TEA MIX

Steps:

• Combine iced tea mix, orange flavored drink mix, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Store in an airtight container.
• To serve, stir 1 1/2 teaspoon mix into 1 cup hot water.

SPICED TEA MIX

Steps:

• In an airtight container, combine the first five ingredients. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Yield: about 7-1/2 cups total. , To prepare tea: Dissolve about 1 tablespoon tea mix in boiling water; stir well. Yield: 1 serving., To prepare punch: In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the juices, 1/4-1/3 cup tea mix and cinnamon sticks. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Yield: about 12 servings (6 ounces each).

SPICED CITRUS TEA MIX

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and shake.
• If a more uniform mixture is desired, run through blender or food processor in batches.
• To serve, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 1 cup hot or cold water. Attach serving instructions if giving as a gift.

SPIKED LEMONY ICED TEA

Steps:

• Cut a few thin rounds of lemon and reserve for garnish. Zest 2 tablespoons of zest from the remaining lemons, then juice the lemons (you'll need 4 tablespoons of juice; reserve any additional juice for another use).
• Make the ice cubes: Stir the lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the hot water in a heatproof liquid measuring cup. Pour the liquid into a standard ice cube tray and freeze.
• Make the cocktail: In a mixer, shake together the tea, whiskey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Shake and set aside for the sugar to melt.
• Serve: Arrange a few ice cubes in 2 glasses. Add a couple of ice cubes to the mixer and shake. Pour half of the cocktail mix into each. If you like, run the edge of the glasses with the lemon slices. Garnish the glass with the slices.

HOT SPICED CIDER TEA

Steps:

• Lightly crush the cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, and cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle or on a cutting board with the bottom of a saucepan. Transfer to a medium saucepan, add the ginger, citrus peels. Put the crushed spices in a medium saucepan and add the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, until aromatic, and the cinnamon stick opens a bit, about 10 minutes. Add the tea bags, immediately remove from the heat, and steep for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the tea bags, and add the cider and juice of 1 orange. Return the pan to a medium heat and warm, taking care not to let the tea boil. Serve hot.

SPICED CITRUS COFFEE

Steps:

• Place spices and peel into a saucepan.
• Pour coffee over spices and simmer over low heat for roughly 5 minutes.
• Strain into cups and top with whipped cream.
• Garnish with a sprinkle of cinammon.
• Sweeten with brown sugar if desired.

WARM SPICED CITRUS PUNCH

Steps:

• In a large kettle, bring 1 qt. of water and sugar to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the remaining water. Add the orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, extracts and spices; cook and stir over medium heat until hot (do not boil). Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.