Dried orange peel, one of the ingredients of orange spice tea.
A popular variation on traditional black tea calls for a mixture of dried orange zest or peel and a combination of spices, such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The final product is known as orange spice tea, and is often sold loose leaf or in bags at gourmet cafes and teas. It can also be found on supermarket shelves, possibly under special labels like Celestial Spices.
Nutmeg is often included in orange spice tea.
Recipes vary greatly, although the only constant is the use of orange zest or dried orange peel. The cascarilla or cascarilla is usually mixed with black tea leaves to form the base of the tea. From then on, any number of spice combinations are possible. Some of the most basic recipes only require the addition of ground or whole cloves to create the warm, spicy tones. Cinnamon is also mentioned as the only spice in some recipes.
Spiced orange tea can be used to make iced tea.
While the cloves and cinnamon definitely give orange tea a strong spice flavor, many people use other spices to create a more complex drink. Ground nutmeg or allspice can also be mixed with black tea and dried orange peel to create a satisfying drink. This tea blend is not the same as chai, which often contains black pepper and other more exotic spices.
There is also a popular powdered drink mix that many people call orange spice tea or Russian tea. This drink mix consists of a powdered orange breakfast drink mixed with a powdered instant tea mix. Several different spices, most notably cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and/or nutmeg, can be added to the dry mix to create a low-cost alternative to commercial mixes. This form of tea can also be packed as a Christmas present as it has a very long shelf life if stored correctly.
Spiced orange tea is considered one of the best options for those who are new to the idea of gourmet tea blends. It can be consumed hot or cold. Some consumers may want to add milk and honey for a sweeter, smoother consistency.