When I lived on the East Coast, fall was all about finding ways to warm up in the mornings or evenings without cranking up the heat. This meant lots of soups and braises, blankets, long and vigorous walks, and cups of cider.
Too bad I hadn't yet discovered Martha Stewart's genius idea (in October's issue of her magazine) of co-mingling tea and cider in one glass. When it's not quite time for a Hot Toddy, brew a cup of tea using cider instead of water for a warm, comforting hot drink. Stewart recommends using Early Grey in apple cider; we also think that Ginger or Constant Comment would be lovely as well.
Some Inspiration:
• Tea and Cider Wassail - Better Homes and Gardens
• Hot Spiced Cider Tea - Food Network
• Cinnamon Cider Tea - Tea With Grace
Related: Recipe: Spiced Apple Cider
(Images: Megan Gordon and Flickr member Anders Aramark licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Don't limit yourself to black tea and spices. One of my favourite winter drink is hot apple juice with bissap (hibiscus) herbal tea. Lemon verbena is also very nice.
As apple juice/cider can be pretty sweet, adapt the amount of apple juice to your prefered sweetness.
I love doing this with hot chocolate! Especially with chai tea. I'll definitely have to try it with cider, though.
One of the gals at work makes her hot chocolate with coffee instead of water...
I love chai tea (the kind in a bag, not the concentrate) in cider - Starbucks will even make it for you if you ask!
When I was in college, I used to take apple juice and herbal tea bags (both available in the dining hall) and microwave them together. Quick and dirty spiced cider.
I miss freshly pressed apple cider. Up here in BC, you ask for cider and you get a bottle of hard cider -- or a cup of apple juice.
Ooh I wish I had some hot cider right now- it's raining like the dickens! I like to drink cider warm when my annual sore throat-a-thon rears its head- apples have throat-soothing qualities.
We literally wait ALL year for it to be cold enough in LA to drink hot cider. Some of us were just not meant for this much heat.
What is the trick here? do you use warmed sparkling cider or apple cider juice? or make apple cider and then add the tea?
mint tea + hot chocolate is also delicious. homemade peppermint cocoa - saves you $3.50 at starbucks.
I'll have to try the cider w/ tea asap.