Chai Spiced Hot Apple Cider

Name: Chai Spiced Hot Apple Cider
Cook time: 12 min
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients: 500 ml apple cider unfiltered or regular; 60 ml water for rinsing spices if needed; added to the pan; 2 count black tea bags plain; 2 count cinnamon stick plus 2 sticks for serving; 6 g fresh ginger thinly sliced; 4 count green cardamom pods lightly crushed; 4 count whole cloves whole; 4 count black peppercorns lightly cracked; 1 count star anise whole; 20 g honey to taste; 10 ml lemon juice freshly squeezed

A warm apple cider drink simmered briefly with chai-style spices, then strained and served hot with lemon and cinnamon. The method keeps the apple flavor clear while building aromatic spice depth.

By Julienne

Cook time: 12 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients

500 ml apple cider unfiltered or regular
60 ml water for rinsing spices if needed; added to the pan
2 count black tea bags plain
2 count cinnamon stick plus 2 sticks for serving
6 g fresh ginger thinly sliced
4 count green cardamom pods lightly crushed
4 count whole cloves whole
4 count black peppercorns lightly cracked
1 count star anise whole
20 g honey to taste
10 ml lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

Add the apple cider, water, black tea bags, 2 cinnamon sticks, ginger, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise to a small saucepan. Set over medium heat and bring just to a bare simmer; do not boil hard. Small bubbles appear around the edges and the surface is steaming, but it is not rapidly boiling.
Lower the heat and steep at a very gentle simmer for 8 minutes, stirring once or twice so the spices circulate without breaking the tea bags. The cider smells strongly spiced and tastes balanced, not sharply bitter.
Turn off the heat. Stir in the honey until dissolved, then add the lemon juice if using for a brighter finish. No visible honey remains and the cider tastes sweet with a slight lift from lemon if added.
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into 2 heatproof mugs. Serve each mug with 1 cinnamon stick. The drink is clear of spice solids and hot enough to sip immediately.