This delightfully simple recipe tastes like a tantalizing dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth but is filled with healthy ingredients and ready in 10 minutes or less—making it the best of all worlds! Make up a larger batch for the whole household to enjoy as a great start to the morning, with brunch, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or after dinner in place of dessert.
I make this with our caffeine-free herbal chai tea, because the delicious spices are a wonderful combination with apples and it creates a taste that is reminiscent of apple pie. The spices are also abundant in anti-inflammatory, immune and digestive benefits. Their warming nature naturally stimulates the circulation, which can help give you a caffeine free energy boost.
Since the tea being used is caffeine free, it can be enjoyed by all ages as a mocktail. For an adult version, add a splash of your favourite spirit.
—by Tea Master Daniela Cubelic of Silk Road Tea
Preparation
Ingredients
1 tsp Silk Road Herbal Chai Tea* (a blend of ginger, cinnamon, anise, cardamom and allspice)
¾ cup boiling water
¼ cup good quality apple juice
optional: 1 oz whisky, bourbon, rum, vodka or your favourite spirit
Method
Heat ¼ cup apple juice at a low temperature on the stove. Pour ¾ cup boiling water over 1 tsp loose tea. Steep 10 minutes and then strain brewed tea into heated apple juice. Pour into your favourite cozy mug or a brandy snifter. If desired, add alcohol, then garnish with thinly sliced apple, orange slices, a cinnamon stick or a piece of candied ginger.
*Note: You can also use your favourite spice tea in this recipe. Or, you can create a blend using spices in your cupboard. Great spices for a homemade spice tea include dried ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, coriander, allspice, anise and nutmeg. Place ½ tsp of each of the spices you would like to use in a bowl. Stir together until they are well combined and let sit in a sealed container for a week for the ingredients to cure before using as a tea.
