Orange Spice Black Tea
Assam tea, cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel in one cup. It drinks like the holidays decided to show up on a Tuesday morning.
What It Is
Orange Spice Black Tea is a blended black tea built on Assam, a full-bodied tea from northeastern India known for its malty, slightly brisk character. Cinnamon, whole orange peel, and cloves are blended in, so the spice is baked into every steep, not an afterthought.
It has a moderate caffeine level, somewhere between green tea and a strong cup of coffee. That makes it a reasonable morning tea or a good pick for early afternoon when you want something warm and a little grounding without going overboard.
What To Do
Use about one heaping teaspoon per eight ounces of water. Steep in water that has just come off a boil, around 200 to 212 degrees, for three to five minutes. Go longer and it gets bolder; pull it earlier if you prefer something lighter. It is good plain, and it holds up well with milk of choice and a little honey.
Try it as the base for a simple iced tea. Steep it double strength, pour over ice, and add a strip of fresh orange peel if you have one. Store loose tea away from light and strong smells in a sealed container.
