Spiced Tea With Citrus Twist

Spiced tea with a citrus twist topped with whipped cream. This ancient spiced tea recipe incorporates medicinal benefits and deliciousness.

Spiced Tea with Citrus Twist

Black tea is great but sometimes it’s fun to spice it up a little. This spiced tea is a special brew of citrus, apple and aromatic spices for a warming welcome on a cold winters day.

Ancient spiced tea recipes originating from South Asia and the Middle East have an ingenious way of incorporating medicinal benefits while simultaneously serving up deliciousness. This recipe is an adaptation of a Middle Eastern citrus twist spiced tea topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Spices add a wonderful flavor and have many healing properties. The best way to make use of their benefits is to add them to foods or beverages.

Black Tea is a very special herb and is used generously in these eastern countries. South Asian and Middle Eastern countries have been drinking tea for thousands of years. It is very common for them to add spices to black tea for their healing properties.

Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to India, and part of the Indian Philosophy dating back to 700 BCE. It includes the use of herbal blends in beverages and cooking with the addition of spice combinations.

Plant-based treatments in Ayurveda are derived from roots, leaves, fruits, bark or seeds such as cardamom and cinnamon.

For the tea, I recommend a strong black tea such as an English Breakfast, an Indian Assam or a nice Chinese Keemun. You want to select the type of black tea that holds up well to milk and sugar to balance out the spice flavors.

Popular Spices in Spiced Tea

The most common herbal blends used include turmeric, cumin, coriander, fennel, mint, black pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne. These spices are known to enhance digestion and metabolism, cleanse the body and prevent digestive disorders.

It is important to remember that spices need heat to bring out their best qualities and flavors. I think even just inhaling the aroma of this simmering brew got my digestive juices flowing. If nothing else, it made the house smell so good!

Part of the benefit of spices is in their aromatic compounds. That is one of the reasons it is recommended you buy the spice seed, and not the ground powder, whenever possible. Grind the spice seed at home with a mortar and pestle or you can grind them in a coffee bean grinder. Either way, the fresher the spice, the greater the benefit.

So not only do the spices add a wonderful flavor they are beneficial as well. Double score!

I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor and aroma of this spiced tea. I’ve only made it hot and it is absolutely delicious! But I’m guessing it would also be excellent served over ice.

However, in India, Ayurveda principles advice against drinking cold beverages. The rationale is that it is bad for the digestion. They may be right, but we are so used to drinking cold beverages here in the US.

For me personally, I don’t ice my water but I do drink it cold. I always drink my tea hot every morning all year around. That’s a must. And during the warmer months, I replace my afternoon hot tea with iced tea.

If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are depressed it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you.” – William Gladstone

Brew up this awesome citrus twist spiced tea topped with whipped cream and share with a friend. They will love it and love you for sharing.

Be sure to use a good quality specialty tea for the best flavor possible.

 

Medicinal Goodness of Spiced Tea

As always, I include a comprehensive nutritional breakdown at the end of this post.

Oranges – A good source of Thiamin, Folate, and Potassium, and a very good source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant.

Black tea – Tea is high in polyphenols, a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants have proven health benefits to cardiovascular health.

Black tea contains an amino acid called l-theanine, which is unique to tea and has some very interesting effects on the brain. L-theanine increases alpha brain waves inducing a calm and deeply relaxed state. Combined with the caffeine, which is about half the amount found in coffee, the overall effect is a focused calm.

Apples –Excellent source of dietary fiber and Vitamin C. Apples are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

Coriander seeds – A good source of Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper and Selenium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, and Manganese. Coriander seeds are said to help the assimilation of other spices. And have anti-inflammatory properties.

Clove – Often used for upset stomach. It is also a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Calcium and Iron, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Magnesium, and Manganese.

Whipping cream – A 1/8 cup of whipped cream has 10 milligrams of calcium. Heavy whipping cream has small amounts of phosphorous, potassium, folate and vitamin A.

Cinnamon – Contains large amounts of highly potent polyphenol antioxidants. Some studies show that the antioxidants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory activity.

Allspice – A good source of Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Manganese.

Thanks for Reading

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Please leave a comment and let me know any thoughts, suggestions or questions you may have about tea. I want to hear from you!

P.S. Don’t forget to grind your spices from seed for the best benefit. I have this mortar and pestle and this coffee bean grinder – works like a charm!

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