Grandma's Spiced Tea - A delicious warm tea that is perfect for the holidays or any cold weather

There's one drink that I associate with the holidays more than any other. It's something I've had around Christmastime for as long as I can remember. It's warm, sweet, and full of flavor, it is so delicious!

Whenever we would visit Grandma's house for Christmas, she would have her Hot Spiced Tea ready for us. 

For years, I've teased it here on the blog. I've even shown the ingredients, but I've never given out the recipe. If you sent me a message directly, or if you happen to purchase one of those old "Church Cookbooks" my mom shared her best recipes in, you might have seen it. But today, it's time to share it with everybody. 

This Spiced Tea is not just good at Christmastime. It will warm you up any time the weather gets cold. 

Here in Florida even in the winter it doesn't usually get too chilly, but there were a few days when the temperature dipped down into the 30s. Perfect for making this delicious treat!

Truth be told, Theresa and I have modified Grandma's recipe slightly to make it a little easier to make and a little less sweet. I'll be posting my recipe here and Grandma's original recipe below. 

Ingredients: 

6 Lipton Tea Bags

5 long cinnamon sticks (7-8 short ones)

2 tsp whole cloves

1 1/2 cups of sugar

2 cups of 100% Dole Pineapple Juice

1/3 cup of lemon juice

12 oz can of frozen OJ (Minute Maid is best, and it does make a difference)

Directions:

1. Add 4 quarts of water to a pan with cinnamon sticks and cloves. Bring to a boil. 

2. Add tea bags. Reduce heat to medium high and steep tea bags for 7 minutes. 

3. Remove tea bags and add all remaining ingredients.

4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour. 

5. Strain and enjoy! 

First up, the cinnamon sticks and cloves get added to a pot of water. 

Once it comes to a boil, the tea bags are added. 

After 7 minutes, remove the tea bags. If you tie all the strings of the tea bags together, they will come out all at once. 

Add all the remaining ingredients, like the frozen OJ and lemon juice. 

And you can't forget the pineapple juice. 

There's a little bit of sugar in here too. 

For the next hour, you get to enjoy the amazing aromas of this tea filling the house. 

Alli came out of her room and mentioned that she could smell the spiced tea. When would it be ready? 

An hour later, all of us were enjoying a warm cup of Grandma's Spice Tea. It's so good on a cold day. 

Any leftovers can be refrigerated then warmed in the microwave. 

It became a tradition to bring it in a thermos to the Disney Candlelight Processional to enjoy with friends. 

And I always have to make a big batch of it whenever we're visiting family for the holidays. 

Grandma's Original Recipe for Holiday Spiced Tea

Ingredients: 

6 tea bags

5 long cinnamon sticks (7-8 short ones)

2 tsp whole cloves

2 cups of sugar

2 cups of unsweetend pineapple juice

1/3 cup of lemon juice

12 oz can of frozen orange juice

Directions:

1. Bring 2 pans of water to a boil. 2 quarts each. 

2. In the first pan, place cinnamon sticks and cloves. Boil for 15 minutes. 

3. In the second pan, steep the tea bags.

4. Pour the liquid from the tea into the first pan. 

3. Add all remaining ingredients.

4. Simmer for 1 hour. 

5. Strain and enjoy! 

Thank you Grandma! Every Christmas when I make this, I think of you!