Winter wonder: Non‑alcoholic mulled drinks you can enjoy - black tea and cherry versions

A hot mug of mulled drink can be a perfect way to unwind after a long walk or a busy day. And the best part is, you do not necessarily need alcohol in it. The non-alcoholic mulled drink is so tasty that everyone, including kids, pregnant women, and drivers, can enjoy it.

The main ingredient for this recipe is black tea, so be sure to select a good-quality one. To enhance its flavor, aromatic spices and raspberry juice are added. Served in a beautiful glass or festive mug along with a cinnamon stick and a slice of orange, it makes an enticing drink that's hard to resist.

Remember, before adding citrus peel to the tea, you need to blanch it first.

Ingredients:

• About 7/8 cup of water,
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of loose black tea,
• 2 cloves,
• 1 stick of cinnamon,
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger,
• 1 slice of orange,
• 2 tablespoons of raspberry juice,
• 1 teaspoon of honey.

Preparation method:

1. Start by adding water and tea to a pot and let it boil for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add cloves, cinnamon, and grated ginger to the pot and continue boiling.
3. Remove the infusion from heat, cover it with a lid or a plate and set it aside for 5 minutes.
4. Strain the tea through a sieve into a large mug.
5. Add raspberry juice and a slice of orange. Top it up with a teaspoon of honey for a sweet touch.

This recipe can also be adapted to use apple juice instead of black tea. All you need to do is replace tea with apple juice and follow the same steps as above.

A delightful change from the traditional tea-based mulled drinks could be a cherry juice-based mulled drink. It's simple yet delightful!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/8 cups of cherry juice,
• 1 orange,
• 8-10 cloves,
• 2 star anise seeds,
• 2 cinnamon sticks,
• A pinch of ground cardamom,
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.

Preparation method:

1. Thoroughly wash the oranges with boiling water, then cut them into slices while setting a few aside for garnishing.
2. Place the chopped oranges into a pot, add all the spices and top it with cherry juice.
3. Add sugar and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Make sure you don't bring it to a boil.
4. Pour the ready mulled drink into glasses and garnish with the saved orange slices. Enjoy!