It may be the first week of Fall, but here in Nashville the temperatures are still in the 90’s. Fall is my favorite time of the year, so I’ve been so excited to dive into all of the fall drinks and recipes. At the end of the day, though, I’ve just needed something refreshing to cool me down! I’ve also been trying to fuel my body with healthy foods and drinks, so one afternoon I set out to make a refreshing iced tea using a ton of anti-inflammatory ingredients, which happen to be all of my favorite Fall spices! What I ended up with was not only a powerful health tonic, but also a deliciously refreshing drink that I’d happily serve to dinner guests - it’s that delicious and that beautiful!

The recipe is pretty loose - feel free to add more or less of each ingredient depending on your preference. I’ve been drinking it iced, but it’s also delicious served hot for those of you that are already enjoying cooler weather!

INGREDIENTS:

2+ inches Fresh Ginger (peeled + sliced)

1-2 Tbs Cloves (whole)

5-6 Dashes Cinnamon (ground)

4-5 Dashes Turmeric (ground)

Couple dashes of Cayenne Pepper (ground)

3 Green Tea Bags

Juice of 1 Lemon

Local Honey

1 Large Pot of Filtered Water (~6 quarts)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fill a large pot with filtered water. Bring to a boil on the stove and add the ginger slices and any whole spices. Let simmer for 10 minutes and add any ground spices and the green tea bags. Let simmer on low for 10 more minutes. Take off heat, remove the green tea bags, and add the juice of one whole lemon and a healthy dose of local honey. Stir, then let it sit to cool (or serve it hot!). Once it’s cooled down to room temperature, pour the tea into pitchers, being careful not to get the ginger slices or too much of the ground spice sludge at the bottom of the pot in there. Place in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve by itself, or over ice! Be sure to clean up any spills quickly, as the turmeric can stain surfaces fast!

Make it more potent: Add 1-2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to make it an even more powerful health tonic!

Make it fancy: Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice and fill the rest of the way with tea and shake until the outside is frosty. This makes the tea frothy and deliciously refreshing! Serve in a tumbler or coupe glass.

Make it hot: Serve while it’s still hot or reheat on the stove later!

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