Nitrate & Nitrite 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 on the couch and do absolutely nothing else for a while. Fresh apple slices and a Ceylon cinnamon stick simmer together until the water turns a beautiful golden hue, then fresh peppermint leaves steep in the hot liquid to add a cool, bright lift that balances the warmth perfectly. A touch of honey at the end rounds everything out without overpowering the natural flavors. For anyone navigating nitrate and nitrite concerns, this recipe is a genuinely clean option — every ingredient is whole and unprocessed, with no cured or preserved components anywhere in sight. Packaged teas and flavored drinks can be surprisingly tricky territory, often containing additives or blends that are hard to verify, so brewing your own from scratch like this puts you fully in control. It comes together in under 20 minutes and feels far more special than the effort involved. Serve it garnished with a fresh apple slice and a little sprig of mint for a presentation that looks like it came from a cozy café.
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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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