With cold weather here to stay for months ahead, cold and flu season has also arrived. If you’re looking for a way to warm up and fight cold symptoms at the same time, this is the drink for you! Spiced cranberry tea both warms your body and boosts your immune system. Oh, and it also tastes wonderful!
My mother has been making this tea for many years. She will make up a big batch several times every winter. That way, she always has some on hand to send to a sick relative or friend. In fact, some of her friends like it so much, they will call and ask for it when they’re sick!
I have a smaller family, so I usually freeze a quart or two when I make it. I find it very convenient to pull a container out of the freezer and heat it on the stove. Even if I’m not the one who’s sick, I’ll drink this warm spiced tea any day!
It doesn’t taste medicinal, so you could even serve it at a tea party or holiday gathering!
Immune Boosting Benefits
The immune boosting elements in this beverage are cinnamon, cloves, honey, lemon, orange, and of course, cranberries! You may have heard of one or two of these used as home remedies for colds. Taken together, they make a great immune supplement!
Let’s start by going over the immune system benefits of each ingredient in this tea. My nurse practitioner side takes over when I talk about nutrition and health, but I’ll try to keep it short!
Cinnamon
Cinnamon, specifically the compound cinnamaldehyde, which is a component of cinnamon, has many health benefits. It is a potent antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects. It has also been used as an antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral treatment in medical studies. This combination of effects makes cinnamon a powerful immune booster!
Cloves
Cloves also have many antioxidants, but their most notable contribution to immunity is as an antimicrobial. They are effective antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. Cloves have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, particularly in India and China (source: Solstice Medicine).
Honey
Honey is a powerhouse of health benefits. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as antimicrobial. It has also been used in traditional medicine to treat throat infections and asthma, among other things.
Lemon
Lemon’s immune benefits come from the vitamin C and potassium it contains, as well as from limonene and other compounds found in the oils of lemon and other citrus peels. You’ve probably heard of drinking lemon water to decrease stress and fight infection. Lemon oil is such a strong antibiotic that it’s used in household cleaning solutions!
Orange
Oranges are similar to lemons in health benefits. However, since we’re only using orange juice in this recipe, and not the peel with its oils, the main immune system benefits are vitamin C and potassium.
Cranberries
Cranberries are the last ingredient on our list. By now, their health benefits sound familiar: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial. Most people associate cranberry juice with UTI treatment or prevention, but it also hinders other bacteria, particularly those in the mouth.
Whew! Thanks for sticking with me through that list. I know not everybody gets as excited about that stuff as I do! Now, on to the recipe.
Method
Spiced cranberry tea is very simple to make, and most of the ingredients are probably in your kitchen already.
Start with the cranberries. I have used both the large cranberries you can buy at the grocery store, and the wild lowbush cranberries (lingonberries) that grow in these parts. Frozen is fine; just let them thaw partially before trying to puree them in a blender.
As you may have guessed, the first step is to chop or puree the cranberries with water in a blender or food processor. They don’t need to be completely smooth; just keep in mind that the size the cranberries are now is about the size they will be in your cup. I don’t mind a lot of pulp in my drink, but some people do.
Pour the cranberry mixture into a large pot and add a quart of water and another of tea. I use regular black tea. My mother uses all water. If you would prefer to use herbal tea instead, I would suggest cinnamon, lemon, or something else that would complement the flavors of the drink.
Next, add 12 ounces of orange juice concentrate. This can be thawed or frozen. Stir in the cinnamon sticks and cloves, and simmer away for 20-40 minutes. It won’t look any different when it’s done; the simmering time is just to steep the spices in the hot liquid.
When you’re satisfied that the cinnamon and cloves have been thoroughly steeped, strain them out and stir in the honey, lemon juice, and lemon peel. The amounts given are really suggestions. Taste the tea and add more honey or lemon juice if you find it too tart or sweet.
That’s all there is to it! your cranberry tea is ready to be drunk or frozen as you wish. It will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week, and in the freezer for several months.
Other Ideas for Cranberry Tea
Try chilling the tea, straining it if necessary, and mixing it with ginger ale or lemon-lime soda for a spiced holiday punch! Or freeze in ice cube trays and float in cranberry juice. You could even use it as the liquid when making a molded gelatin salad!
One last note: if you steep the spices for a long time, the flavor may be quite strong. I usually dilute the tea with a little water when I drink it. My husband prefers it full strength- or with a little extra honey!
If you make this spiced cranberry tea, let me know what you think! I’m always happy to answer any questions you might have about my recipes.
Spiced Cranberry Tea
Ingredients
- 4 cups cranberries
- 2 cups water
- 1 quart tea black or herbal
- 1 quart water
- 12 ounces orange juice concentrate
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 12 whole cloves
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon peel grated
Instructions
- Puree cranberries and 2 cups water in blender or food processor until desired consistency.
- Pour the cranberry mixture into a large pot. Add the tea, 1 quart water, orange juice concentrate, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Simmer 20-40 minutes.
- Stir in honey, lemon juice, and lemon peel until combined. Taste and add more honey or lemon juice as needed.
Melody says
I love this tea! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe 🙂
Kimberly says
You are most welcome, Mel! It is a great recipe.
nanci says
so did you consider canning in pints in a hot water bath??