Spiced Cider or Honeybush Tea

Spiced cider is a delicious warm winter drink, but contains a lot of natural sugar. For a practically no-carb version, try spiced honeybush tea.

Honeybush is a wonderful African tea that tastes sweet and a bit like honey, but not so strong as actual honey. It's perfect for making a spiced beverage. Because it is exceptionally sweet and mild, honeybush can also be used as a sweetener mixed with other teas. It is caffeine-free, high in Vitamin C, potassium, calcium and magnesium, anti-oxidants, and rare trace minerals. Order organically grown honeybush tea from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Hot spiced drinks are traditionally flavored with spice and citrus. These can be added to red wine, apple cider, or tea (for a low-carb version).

Choose any spices you like and use them whole: cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, fresh ginger, allspice berries, star anise...use one or two or many.

Then add slices of fresh orange or lemon or both. Use organically grown fruit as nonorganic citrus has fumigants in the peel.

Gently warm the liquid of choice and add the spices and citrus. Allow to simmer gently, but don't boil. The flavor of the spice and citrus will become stronger the longer they steep. If it gets too strong, add water to dilute.

In my opinion, these spiced drinks are sweet enough without any added sweetener, but you may add the sweetener of your choice to taste.