elc team
By Sofia Triantou
A simple, aromatic apple tea made from apple peels, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. A warm, comforting recipe for cozy winter evenings.
An incredibly simple, warm, and aromatic tea is always a wonderful companion on cold winter nights. It’s a great way to use apple peels. Their beautiful color, along with their lovely flavor, will also give a rosy hue to your cup.
Nutmeg and cinnamon always warm our senses and offer their comforting aromas. We favor them on cold days because they pair beautifully with winter fruits such as apple and orange.
Nutmeg is the secret to the deliciousness of this recipe…
Nutmeg was once considered medicinal, according to this 16th-century description:
“Nutmegs are good for those who have a cold head and they comfort the eyesight and the brain. They are also good for the spleen,” wrote Karen Castillo.
This wonderful round spice was also responsible for a “sweet agreement” in 1667, when the Dutch traded Manhattan-then not considered very important-in exchange for nutmeg and sugar.
To this day, it remains a sweet accord in our dishes, our cups, and the secrets of our cooking.
Ingredients
- Peels and cores of 4 apples (red apples will give a beautiful pink hue)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp grated zest of fresh orange
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger root, or to taste
- Honey for serving, optional
Instructions
- Place the apple peels and spices in a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture sit on the stovetop for another 20 minutes.
- Strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer into a pot or directly into individual cups, reheating if necessary.
- Add a spoonful of honey (or agave syrup) and some freshly grated orange zest, as desired.
- The tea can be stored in the refrigerator (in a glass jar) and enjoyed warm or cold, as you prefer.
Enjoy and don’t forget: grate some nutmeg to use as incense in your home!
