A Warming Tea for a Cold Winter's Evening

If you are a fan of tea like we are, then you really need to try this tea. This is my go-to tea for a cold winter's evening. Sitting by our wood stove and taking a warming sip is truly something - especially after a long day of hard work! What is this tea? It is cardamom and honey tea.

The part that takes the longest is boiling up the water. So, the first thing you need to do is put the kettle on. Once that is on, gather your ingredients.

The ingredients are pretty simple: cardamom and honey. Cardamom is sold whole in pods, by seeds alone, or ground. All of them work just fine, but I prefer to grind my spices fresh, so I would go with one of the first two options. Honey type is up to you, too, but if I could suggest any type, I would say orange blossom honey.

The first step is to grind up the cardamom in a mortar and pestle. While this step is not absolutely crucial, it does allow you to use fewer cardamom seeds and releases the flavor a bit better. Brewing it with whole seeds does work just fine, though, so if you don't have a mortar and pestle, fear not! (I have done it both ways many a time to good effect.)

Finished grinding.

Once you grind the seeds (or not), put them in your favorite cup. I really enjoy also the way tea looks, so I like to use glass mugs. There is no real need to use a strainer as the cardamom is heavier than water and readily sinks to the bottom.

The final step is to add the hot water, stir, and take a seat next to your wood stove (a truly vital part of the whole experience). Then, take a deep breath and let the aches of the day just float away. Enjoy your tea!

What about you? Do you have a favorite wintertime drink?