Nitrate & Nitrite Free Cinnamon Apple Tea
Warm, fragrant, and naturally sweet, this simmered apple tea is the kind of drink that makes a cold afternoon feel instantly cozier. Sliced apple, Ceylon cinnamon, and fresh ginger steep together until the liquid turns a beautiful light amber — no tea bags, no powders, no packaged mixes required. That matters more than it might seem, because many flavored teas and spiced drink blends rely on preservatives or additives that people avoiding nitrates and nitrites have to watch out for on labels. Here, every single ingredient is whole and recognizable, from the honey stirred in at the end to the optional squeeze of fresh lemon juice. The result is a clean, gently spiced brew that tastes far more complex than the short ingredient list suggests. It comes together in one saucepan and strains into two mugs with almost no effort, making it just as practical on a weeknight as it is for a slow weekend morning.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 cups water
- 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced (any sweet variety such as fuji or honeycrisp)
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick
- 3 slices fresh ginger (each about ¼ inch thick)
- 1 tbsp honey, or to taste
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, apple slices, Ceylon cinnamon stick, and ginger in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low.
- 2
Simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, until the liquid is fragrant and takes on a light amber color from the apple and cinnamon.
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