Get ready to tantalize your taste buds because today we're diving headfirst into the world of cranberries! These juicy little superfruits might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Aussie cuisine, but they're an absolute must-try ingredient.
You can use them to get yourself a tasty riff on your morning oats or to brew them into cranberry tea. Speaking of cranberry tea, this deliciously tangy and slightly sweet tea is perfect to start your day or unwind after a long day. It’s also an amazing tea to simply enjoy the holiday season with friends.
What Is Cranberry Tea?
When fresh or dried cranberries are steeped in hot water, you get cranberry tea. And you also get the benefits of the tea – antioxidants, vitamin C and other nutrients that improve your immune system.
If you’ve tried cranberries, you may guess the taste of the tea. Yes, it’s tart and tangy with subtle sweetness. But you get a real cranberry kick or a more subdued flavour, depending on how you make it. For those who find the tartness a bit much to handle, a little bit of honey or sugar can fix it.
And the more adventurous ones can try blending the tea with other ingredients such as apple, orange cinnamon or cloves. These flavours play off the cranberry beautifully and what you get is a truly delicious and complex cup of tea. So go ahead and try it! Cranberry tea might just be your new favourite brew.
How To Make Cranberry Tea?
Making this tea is easier than you might think and doesn’t take much to learn the process. Once you’ve learned how to make cranberry tea, you’ll be able to enjoy this amazing drink in the comfort of your home with just a few ingredients and some simple steps.
Our cranberry tea recipe uses fresh cranberries, but frozen ones can also be used.
Ingredients:
- 350 g fresh cranberries
- 2 litres water
- 1/2 cup honey or sugar (or more to taste)
- Juice of 1 lemon (optional)
Instructions:
Step one: Rinse the fresh cranberries under cold water to remove any dirt. Set aside.
Step two: In a large pot, add 2 litres of water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Step three: Once the water has boiled, reduce the heat to medium and chuck the rinsed cranberries into the pot.
Step four: Let the cranberries simmer in the water for around 15-20 minutes. Continue until they have softened and burst open. You’ll see their juice at this point.
Step five: Remove the pot from heat and let the mixture cool for a few minutes.
Step six: Use a mesh strainer to strain the cranberry juice. You can use a spoon to press the mixture down and extract as much juice as possible.
Step seven: Once you've strained the juice, pour it back into the pot and heat.
Step eight: Add the honey or sugar to the pot and stir. If you like, squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into the pot. Stir well.
Step nine: Let the mixture simmer on low heat for another 5-10 minutes to allow the flavours to blend.
Step ten: Remove the pot from heat. Serve the freshly brewed tea and enjoy.
The cranberry tea recipe won’t be complete without some ideas on how to make cranberry tea variations:
Ice Cranberry Tea - This variation uses black tea bags or even other tea leaves that you prefer. Remove the teapot from heat and add 4 tea bags of your preferred tea. Let it steep for 4-5 minutes. As always, if you like stronger tea then steep for longer. Refrigerate for about an hour or until completely chilled.
Cranberry Green Tea - Try mixing some green tea leaves or teabags after removing the teapot from heat. Let it steep for 4-5 minutes – and it’s ready.
Spiced Cranberry Tea - Add a cinnamon stick and a few cloves to the cranberry mixture. Let it simmer for some time for a nice spicey flavour.
Cranberry Lemonade Tea - After removing the pot from heat, mix freshly brewed tea with lemonade for a refreshing and tangy twist. Add some fresh mint also.
Cranberry Orange Tea - Add the zest of 2 oranges to the pot after removing the tea from heat. This will give your tea a bright and citrusy flavour.
Cranberry Apple Tea - Add some apple juice to the pot after you remove it from heat in the last step. You can also add 1 inch cinnamon stick and some cloves for extra warmth.
Secret Tips and Tricks to The Make Best Cranberry Tea
So you already know how to make cranberry tea but need some tips and tricks to take your tea game to the next level? Well, we’ve got you covered. Now, give your cranberry tea recipe a boost with these tips:
- If you’re not too happy with the tea from dried cranberries, try fresh ones now. Fresh cranberries are best suited for a luxe store-bought feel in your cranberry mixture.
- Also, try making this tea with some spices such as cinnamon, cloves and ginger. These spices add warmth and complexity to the flavour profile.
- It’s crucial that you steep your tea for just the right amount of time. Generally, 5-10 minutes works well. But consider your taste preferences and try varying the time to get the flavour you like best.
- This tip is most important and not just for this tea. Keep experimenting. Add fruits, their juices or herbs; or try different types of tea such as black tea, green tea or herbal tea to your cranberry mixture.
Storing Instructions for Cranberry Tea
Now that you've successfully made a delicious pot of tea using the cranberry tea recipe, let’s take care of the leftovers. Storing the tea properly can help maintain the tea's freshness and flavour for longer.
Refrigerate: Simply store the tea in the refrigerator. Let it cool down to room temperature and transfer it to a sealed container. Make sure the container is clean to prevent any contamination.
Freeze: If you have a large batch of tea and want to keep it for longer, just freeze it. Let the tea cool down to room temperature, transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Using ice cube tray is also a good idea.
Reheat Properly: When you’re ready to enjoy your stored tea, make sure to reheat it properly. Don’t overheat it, as it can affect its taste. By the way, the refrigerated one will make a good, iced tea variation.
Conclusion
That brings our cranberry tea adventure to an end, or rather – to a start!
From the classic cranberry tea to a combination of cranberries and black tea or the addition of aromatic spices and herbs – the possibilities for customizing your tea are endless. The cranberry recipe we've provided is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring the world of cranberry tea.
We hope you’ll give it a try and start enjoying all the benefits that this superfruit has to offer.
FAQs On Cranberry Tea
Q.How do you make cranberry tea?
A. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Lower the heat and add cranberries. Let the mixture simmer for 15-20 minutes. Once done, remove from heat and strain the mixture. Sweeten with honey and some lemon juice. Return the pot to low heat and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.
Q. How do you dry cranberries for tea?
A. Cut the cranberries in half or quarters to help them dry faster and more evenly. Place the cranberries in a dehydrator or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If using an oven, set it to the lowest temperature (around 120° C), and bake the cranberries until they’re dry.
Q. Is cranberry tea the same as cranberry juice?
A. Hot cranberry tea most likely differs from cranberry juice in flavour profile. Also, cranberry tea may have other leaves like herbal tea or black tea unlike cranberry juice. However, iced cranberry tea without any added tea leaves may be considered similar to basic cranberry juice.
Q. What does cranberry tea taste like?
A. Cranberry tea has a tart and tangy flavour with a subtle sweetness that can be enhanced with honey or sugar. The flavour comes from the natural acidity of the cranberries. However, the flavour profile varies when other ingredients like spice and juices are added.
