Description
Sweet Tea Harvest Punch is a versatile and refreshing beverage that can be served cold or hot, featuring a delightful blend of black tea, apple cider, and orange juice with the natural sweetness of honey and aromatic cinnamon sticks. Perfect for seasonal gatherings or cozy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Spices
- 1 orange – thinly sliced
- 1 apple – thinly sliced
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks – food grade
Liquids and Sweeteners
- ¼ cup honey – or to taste
- 2 cups unsweetened black tea
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup apple cider
Instructions
- Prepare Fruit and Spices: Thinly slice the orange and apple, and gather 3 to 4 food-grade cinnamon sticks to enhance the flavor of the punch.
- Make Cold Punch: In a pitcher or a large punch bowl, combine the orange slices, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks. Add honey, unsweetened black tea, orange juice, and apple cider. Stir thoroughly to mix all ingredients. Serve the punch over ice in glasses for a refreshing cold beverage.
- Make Hot Punch Using Slow Cooker: Add the black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey into the slow cooker. Set to high until the mixture is hot, then reduce the heat to the keep warm setting. Serve hot by ladling into heat-safe glasses and garnish with fresh orange slices, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks.
- Make Hot Punch Using Stovetop: Place black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat and simmer gently on low. Once hot, ladle into heat-safe glasses and garnish with fresh orange and apple slices along with cinnamon sticks.
- Storage: Store leftover punch in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving again to redistribute flavors.
- Optional Additions: For a zero-proof alcoholic twist, add half a cup of alcohol-removed Fre brut (sparkling champagne), non-alcoholic rum, whiskey, or tequila. Taste carefully before adding more to suit your preference.
Notes
- Store punch in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and stir well before serving.
- Use food-grade cinnamon sticks for safe consumption.
- Add zero-proof spirits like alcohol-removed sparkling champagne, non-alcoholic rum, whiskey, or tequila for a festive variation.
- Adjust honey quantity according to sweetness preference.
- Serve hot punch in heat-safe glasses to avoid cracking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
