Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea is not your typical backyard barbecue sweet tea, it’s so much better! This next level iced tea uses cinnamon and ginger to highlight the sweetness of the added sugar and bring to the life the light, citrus undertones.
I love refreshing summertime drinks. I’m known to make a batch of my watermelon aqua fresca and my Limoncello lemonade, along with this sweet tea for any backyard gatherings.
Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea Recipe
This is one of the best iced teas you’ll make. Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea is absolutely refreshing, has great flavor and is so easy to put together.
The finished tea is rich and perfumey and will be an absolute hit with your family and friends.
The cinnamon and subtle hints of mint and ginger will forever raise the bar of how iced tea should taste.
Ingredients for Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea
Pantry Ingredients
- cinnamon sticks – these are sold in large or small sizes and you can use one or the other, but the amount changes based on the size you are using for this recipe. Ground cinnamon is not a substitute for this recipe.
- black tea bags – you do not need any fancy brand of tea bags, just make sure they are fresh
- sugar – make sure to use granulated
Fresh Ingredients
- orange peel – just deep enough so you do not grab too much of the white pith
- orange slices – these make a beautiful garnish for each glass and hint to the fact that the tea has a citrus element
- water – tap water is fine if it is good, otherwise use filtered or bottled water
- fresh ginger – do not use squeezable ginger paste since you want to able to strain the ginger pieces out
- fresh mint – available year round in the market
How to Make Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea
Step One: Combine water, the orange peel and cinnamon stick(s) in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add the tea bags and turn off the heat. Let the tea steep for only 5 minutes (any longer and it will be bitter). Remove the tea bags and chill the tea (don’t remove the cinnamon stick or the orange peel yet).
Step Two: Make the syrup by combining water, sugar and ginger over low heat. Bring to a boil without stirring. Once boiling, turn off the heat. Tear the mint leaves and stalks into pieces and drop them into the syrup. Let cool to room temperature. Strain the syrup, discarding the ginger and mint.
Step Three: Strain tea into a pitcher. Add mint and ginger syrup and stir. Serve in a tall glass over ice and garnish with orange slices, mint and cinnamon sticks.
Keep tea refrigerated if not using right away.
What Is Black Tea?
Black tea is made from tea leaves, just like all other teas. However, it is the oxidation of the leaves, where leaves are exposed to moist, oxygen-rich air, that turns them from green to a dark brownish-black color.
Black tea is more oxidized than lighter teas such as, oolong, yellow, white and green teas.
What is the difference between Iced Tea and Sweet Tea?
Iced tea is just hot tea that is not being served hot because it is poured over ice.
Sweet tea became a popular beverage in the South during prohibition times. Once the tea is brewed it served already sweetened with sugar syrup, just like this cinnamon-orange iced tea.
How Do Cinnamon Sticks Flavor This Recipe?
In short, by creating an infusion.
Adding a cinnamon stick to water you are boiling, as we do in this recipe, releases the oils and flavors.
Can Cinnamon Sticks Be Reused?
Yes!
After using your cinnamon stick, rinse under hot water and allow it to completely dry and store as normal.
Before using it a second time, run the cinnamon stick over a grater a few times to help release the flavor.
Only reuse your cinnamon stick about four times before discarding it.
Let me know in the comments how much you loved this iced tea?
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
My Favorite Iced Tea Pitcher
This is my favorite iced tea pitcher. It’s large capacity, has a high heat resistance and is easy to clean (even comes with a cleaning brush).
Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea
Ingredients
For the tea:
- 8 cups water
- 2 large pieces of orange peel, plus orange slices for garnish
- 1 large or 2 small cinnamon stick(s), plus more for garnish
- 8 black tea bags
For the syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 6 quarter-size coins peeled ginger, chopped
- 6 sprigs of fresh mint
Instructions
- To make the tea, combine water, orange peel and cinnamon stick(s) in a medium sized saucepan over low heat; bring to a boil. Add the tea bags and turn off the heat. Let the tea steep for only 5 minutes (any longer and it will be bitter). Remove the tea bags and chill the tea (don't remove the cinnamon stick or the orange peel yet). It's also a good idea to pour the tea into a vessel that is not warm.
- Make the syrup by combining 1 cup water, sugar and ginger in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a boil without stirring. Once boiling, turn off the heat. Tear the mint leaves and stalks into pieces and drop them into the syrup. Let cool to room temperature. Strain the syrup, discarding the ginger and mint.
- Strain the tea into a pitcher. Add the mint syrup and stir. Serve in a tall glass over ice and garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
Nutrition
If you try a recipe, please use the hashtag #NOBLEPIG on INSTAGRAM so we can see what you’ve made. FOLLOW Noble Pig ON FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER to keep up with all our latest recipes.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.