Fall’s Favorite Spice Tea

Welcome back to the All Things Southern kitchen. We southerners have learned to be flexible about what constitutes a new season. If the calendar says it’s fall, by golly, it’s fall! Long before our stubborn trees give up a leaf and regardless of whether we need shorts or sweaters, we take our make-the-best-of-it upbringing and deem that the season has arrived. We’ll pull out our pumpkin recipes and seasonal decorations to the hum of the air conditioner. At this house, the first ode to fall begins with The Making of the Tea. Sounds official. It is, Mike. It’s a tradition traced back to my Mama’s house and everything about it feeds my soul from the colors to the smells to the memories of countless cups shared with family and friends– just our listeners. Hence, back by popular demand, I give you Fall’s Favorite Spice Tea!

“Fall’s Favorite Spice Tea”

1 cup instant tea
2 cups lemonade mix
2 cups Tang instant breakfast drink
1 cup sugar (option)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. allspice

We’ll begin by measuring out a cup of instant tea, two cups of lemonade mix, two cups of Tang instant breakfast drink and one cup sugar. They still make Tang? I never see it. Mix this up with a teaspoon each of ground cloves, ground cinnamon, and allspice and store it in the pantry in a closed container. Now, whenever you feel the hankering for a great cup of spice tea, just heat a mug full of water and stir in 2-3 heaping teaspoons, depending on how strong you like it. Believe it or not, I used to put 2 full cups of sugar in this recipe. These days I either use half the amount of sugar or leave it out completely! I think there’s plenty sweetness in the Tang and lemonade mix. You can always add a teaspoon to your cup if you need it sweeter. Or stick your finger in it, if you’re as sweet as Shellie. What’d you do, Mike? Nothing! Why?

Folks, if you want a quick wassail flavor, substitute orange juice for the water but do enjoy Fall’s Favorite Spice Tea. It’s great fall flavor from the All Things Southern kitchen to yours.