Barley Free Cinnamon-Apple Peppermint Tea
Warm, fragrant, and genuinely soothing, this simmered tea is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and slow down for a few minutes. Fresh apple slices and a Ceylon cinnamon stick simmer together until the water turns lightly golden, then peppermint leaves steep in to add a cool, bright lift that balances the spice beautifully. A touch of honey rounds everything out without overpowering the natural sweetness already coming from the fruit. Many packaged herbal teas and flavored blends sneak in barley or barley malt as a filler or flavor enhancer, which makes store-bought options a minefield if you're avoiding the grain — brewing your own from scratch sidesteps that entirely. Every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify, so you know exactly what's going into your mug. The optional garnish of a fresh apple slice and a sprig of mint makes it feel almost too pretty to drink — almost.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 ½ cups water
- 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced (any sweet variety such as fuji or honeycrisp)
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ cup fresh peppermint leaves, loosely packed
- 1–2 tsp honey, to taste
For serving
- 2 thin apple slices, for garnish (optional)
- 2 small fresh peppermint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, sliced apple, Ceylon cinnamon stick, and ground ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, until the liquid is lightly golden and fragrant.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the fresh peppermint leaves, pressing them gently into the liquid, and steep for 5 minutes.
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