Mandy's Orange Spice Tea

The Fall Season is fast approaching! Today it was a little cooler so I lit a candle that smells like mulled cider and I knew what I had to do tonight. Make Mandy's Orange Spice Tea. Mandy is my dear friend and former college roommate. Our first year in college I went home with her during Christmas break and she made this drink for me to try. I'm sure its not an original and most of you have a recipe like this that you whip up during the cool winter nights but this is special to me. Not for the ingredients but for what it makes me remember. True friendship, ah because I have to call her every year to get the recipe! What patience on her part. Last year I some how manged to hang on to it. Thanks Mandy!

Here is the recipe. The measurements are not exact so you can play with it to make it to your own taste.

Fill a medium sized pot with water and bring to a boil

Add 4 - 6 tea bags. (I use 6 but Mandy said 4 :) It depends on how strong you like your tea.

1 Cinnamon Stick

1 tsp. Whole Cloves

Dash of Allspice (my addition)

A little tip, instead of straining all the cloves out I use a loose leaf tea strainer.

Remove from heat and let sit for about 15 min. Then, take out teabags, cloves and Cinnamon stick.

Add

1/2 a can of Orange Juice Concentrate

1/2 cup Sugar - add more to taste

Return the pan to the stove to heat as the frozen concentrate cools it down a lot. Warm up and enjoy!

My favorite mug right now is the one from my last adventure at the Oregon Garden Brewfest. Using this cup makes me think I should add a little Grand Marnier next time after the kids go to bed :)