Sending the kids off to school this morning, I noticed how cool the weather has become. In fact the temperature is supposed to keep dropping all day. Even though it is still August, and will undoubtedly become warm again, I can't help thinking that it will soon be fall.
Usually when fall starts, people start talking about pumpkin spice everything. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good pumpkin spice treat, but today's recipe is what I think of when the fall season comes around.
When I was little my grandma and mom used to make this spiced tea mix. I used to request it whenever it was chilly outside, or I had a cold, or I didn't feel good, or I just had a bad day. Now that I have a family of my own, I make it for my own kids, and I notice my little girl doing the same thing that I did, requesting it when it is cold, or she just doesn't feel good. There is something about this tea that just makes you feel better inside.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yOoNSev9mGsEBuvu8dqKDV-u72JoQIO5rcrlFySWsvePCcD3XkiXonXU3M-WK45f_ixYv9kKmTeBeADO4rd_v4oAlsePle0j10n81uAAaeT6E3jx05TXUGONuxs_qEbgrMFB3-mHrZM/s320/My+Grandmother+Nan.jpg) |
My grandma around age 18 |
It has been awhile since I have posted a #TBT picture of a family member. This is my grandma that we called "nan." She was about 18 here which would have made it around 1937. She passed away a little over nine years ago. One of the things that I treasure is a copy of her spiced tea recipe in her handwriting. It is written on the back of an envelope, and when I asked my mom for the recipe, I didn't expect her to give me my grandma's handwritten one.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmvwNTmqXwVmnurOkM-aqFWuVBqFt3UBXwkHT1I4r332q4mNjeH7UY0n24MOTBSZbvqvi_LQB8pw2g5WaDZYeDhZArZSaDqD0JzJyYmihEroBhpeSL7zqd2n2gKuCfKP-Jp7lWwesIDg/s320/Spiced+Tea+Recipe.jpg) |
My grandma's handwritten recipe |
You can see the recipe is very simple. I have seen similar versions of this tea on the internet usually called "Friendship Tea" and it includes lemonade drink mix. However, our family never used that version. I hope you will try this and see how you like it.
So here are the ingredients...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzY2X5FEDWOugtiQFSpr2ll-zF_26aBPm7UiJwphtces8qVwsESwyYBmOcVmkCTEIoJxzKAKVA-8AgxdPdhUDnu4B_0rL3L5aI4HOwQp36vfgWlw3dxD57GNsz6Yp19RabZ4LPNex0gs/s320/Spiced+Tea+Ingredients.jpg) |
The players... |
The recipe calls for a pound of Tang, a 1/2 cup of instant tea, a cup of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, and a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Back in my days (as my grandma used to always say), Tang came in a pound jar which made it easy for this recipe. Now however it comes in a 1 pound 4 ounce container. But if you know your measurements, then you know that 4 ounces equals 1/2 cup. So just scoop out a 1/2 of cup and enjoy that with your breakfast. You might also notice that I purchased the decaffeinated version of the instant tea. This is totally your preference. I do that because my kids like to drink this tea, and I really don't want them having a lot of caffeine. Once you have all your ingredients, just pour them all in a mixing bowl.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFTlxnkhL8mH5sWwpmhAv0jEBQn6RPrxLTn7zUOZym-W-H4uyZMWwrov0SjSV2e1Z2NNvmPGn2QKbaEhSbn9r4pWZmFZ3_Wnliyg3h6qLr4C2zkPUK6AgVEVgBW_JKJOmQ03dPswE5wY/s320/Spiced+Tea+Ingredients+in+bowl.jpg) |
Ready to get mixed up! |
Once you mix it up, it looks like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBTXAMqb3vxQ2lOroxrZmDZQBr-KSQpK9f6tAsYeA1IAuV1ZOyc114TB1XRxxWQmrSTMmzJ5NoHabPnjx-bhdiI5ZyxKdvEgzBX-z-GLbKZCG1udqMWzH5D_t6ve-4A_iIYEUFBws3To/s320/Spiced+Tea+Ingredients+Mixed.jpg) |
All mixed and ready to go! |
I know this sounds crazy, but I think it looks so pretty! I normally put the mixture back in the Tang container, but I thought I would show you how I package it up to give to people for gifts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEOyaX6wTCYM5dHVKqreAvvGZjefBSSKDvwccT1c7G3RTtkBZUVVFnVxl5vsVdj3KcolvA9RbPTb6d9WhtHyDDdLE-wc-wkD3P-RBFVmE369HPNLY4WOCkiSCbZXAE7pl-EJUFF0eTbc/s320/Spiced+Tea+in+Container.jpg) |
That's a creamer bottle! |
I save creamer bottles and wash them really good, take off the label and put dry drink mixes in them. Some of the drink mixes I do this with besides the spiced tea mix are my homemade hot cocoa mix, and my Fireside Coffee mix. After I fill the containers, I usually put these in a basket along with some home canned goodies and baked quick breads. I almost said sweet breads, but I didn't want anyone to confuse that with sweetbreads and think that I give thymus or pancreas to people for gifts. ;-)
After it is all mixed, I use 3 spoonfuls to a mug of hot water. You can add more or less to your liking.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBlebdyoyMwgUhWwztPIbZt20BmtEDnJYF_A-ww15Kw_yuarOGA7vKkNBVnzZtURXFopgXl8zxkQIBZ_uduzRRk0q0NXgqhkhKsSoCDTPJj4ThDUUc-4QQ4Pz6AXUkL3NwVa109-rjVM/s320/Spiced+Tea.jpg) |
Mmmmm, hot cup of spiced tea |
If you would like a printable version of this recipe, then click
HERE.
Let me know what you think about this in the comments below.
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