Description
Sweet Tea Harvest Punch is a delightful autumn-inspired beverage that combines the rich flavors of black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey, accented with fresh fruit slices and cinnamon sticks. Enjoy it cold over ice or warm as a cozy drink on chilly days using either a stovetop or slow cooker method.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Spice
- 1 orange – thinly sliced
- 1 apple – thinly sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks – food grade
Liquid Ingredients
- 1/4 cup honey – or to taste
- 2 cups unsweetened black tea
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup apple cider
Instructions
- Prepare Fruits and Cinnamon: Thinly slice the orange and apple, then place them along with the cinnamon sticks into a pitcher or large punch bowl.
- Mix Liquids with Honey: Pour in the honey, unsweetened black tea, orange juice, and apple cider into the pitcher. Stir very well until all ingredients are combined and honey is dissolved.
- Serve Cold: Pour the punch into glasses filled with ice and enjoy chilled.
- Serve Hot Using Slow Cooker: Combine black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey in a slow cooker set to high. Once hot, reduce heat to ‘keep warm’ setting. Ladle into heat-safe glasses and garnish with fresh orange, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks.
- Serve Hot Using Stovetop: Place black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey in a large pot. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and keep warm. Serve in heat-safe glasses with fruit and cinnamon garnish.
Notes
- Store leftover punch in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; stir well before serving again.
- To add a festive twist, incorporate zero-proof spirits like alcohol-removed Fre brut (sparkling), non-alcoholic rum, whiskey, or tequila; start with 1/2 cup and adjust to taste.
- Adjust honey quantity according to desired sweetness or substitute with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- For stronger cinnamon flavor, gently bruise the sticks before adding to release more aroma.
- This punch can be made a day in advance to allow flavors to meld for richer taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
