Winter: spiced tea
Strong black tea with a cinnamon stick, cloves, slices of ginger and a wedge of orange. The spices go into the pot with the leaves, and milk or honey is added to taste.
Seasonal
Seasonal ideas
What we want on the table changes with the weather. In winter we crave something rich and warming, in summer something cool and light. In this section we've collected ideas for the whole year, from a cinnamon-scented mug by the window to a jug of iced tea on the porch.
A winter drink warms you with spices, a summer one refreshes you with a touch of tartness. Both start the same way: well-brewed leaves and a little patience.
An idea is included if it is tied to a particular time of year, uses easy-to-find ingredients and suits the whole family, children included.
All year round
Five seasonal moods and the drinks that suit them.
Winter: hot chocolate
A thick drink of cocoa, milk and a pinch of sugar that you can almost eat with a spoon. It's served in small cups alongside cookies.
Spring: fresh herbs
The first mint and lemon balm from the garden or the windowsill: a few leaves in a pot of green tea give a fresh spring aroma.
Summer: iced tea and lemonade
Chilled black or green tea with lemon and berries, plus homemade lemonade made from citrus juice, water, mint and a little sugar.
Autumn: apple and rosehip
An infusion of dried apple, rosehip and citrus peel with a spoonful of honey: a warm, sweet-and-sour drink for rainy evenings.
How to make winter spiced tea
- Brew the black tea a little stronger than usual: the milk and fruit will soften it.
- Use whole spices; ground ones settle at the bottom and make the drink cloudy.
- Add the orange or lemon at the end so the peel doesn't make it bitter.
- For children, make a separate jug without ginger and with less tea.
Summer drinks without the fuss
- Iced tea can be brewed hot and cooled, or steeped in cold water overnight.
- Lemonade tastes better if you dissolve the sugar in a little warm water first.
- Make cold coffee the evening before: in the morning all you have to do is pour it over ice.
- Keep jugs of drinks covered in the fridge and don't store them for more than a day or two.
- Drinks
An overview of infused drinks: types of tea, ways to make coffee, herbal infusions and cocoa.
- Recipes
Oat cookies, lemon loaf cake and tea sandwiches: home recipes with no tricky techniques.
- Techniques
Teapot, short-steep sessions, cezve, French press, pour-over and cold brew.
- Ingredients
Black, green and white tea, oolong, arabica and robusta, herbs, cocoa and water: choosing and storing.
- Tips
Short tips on brewing, teaware and storage, plus the magazine's article catalogue.
- Questions
Answers to questions about tea and coffee, and about handling boiling water when there are children at home.
What our articles are based on
- tea and coffee brewing guides (in general terms)
- manufacturers' recommendations on tea and coffee packs (in general terms)
The temperatures and steeping times in this magazine are guidelines, not strict rules. Tea and coffee packs often carry their own recommendations, and the taste depends on your water, grind and teaware: experiment and adjust to suit yourself.