This simple tea warms the heart and spirit. Keep the ingredients on hand during the winter for a quick treat at any time. This tea is great to serve to guests who come to visit on a chilly day.

Prep time: 15m | Total time: 15m | Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 nutmeg seed
3 T. pau d’arco*
3 slices dried blood orange*
4 c. water

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain tea, and serve.

* Pau d’arco is an herb taken from the inner bark of a tree found in Latin America. It is reported to be an immune system booster, amongst other benefits. It can be found online if your local health food store/herb shop does not carry it.

I recommend buying extra blood oranges in the winter when they are readily available and dehydrating a stash for use year-round. If you miss the window of availability, or can’t find them in your area, they can be ordered online. Here’s one place to find them.