This cranberry tea recipe is made with real cranberries, cinnamon, cloves, and apple juice. It smells like Christmas and tastes like a cranberry version of mulled cider. Plus, you can make a concentrate to give you tea for days!
Table of Contents
Who says cranberry tea has to be enjoyed only around Christmas? You can buy loads of cranberries for cheap and freeze them for the rest of the year. With this recipe, you can enjoy its festive flavors any time.
Love cranberries? Then you’ll definitely want to try my cranberry sauce, cranberry bars, and cranberry nut bread. They’re all packed with that signature cranberry flavor and are perfect for the holiday season.
When cranberries are in plenty, this is my go to hot drink. It smells divine while you’re making it but is equally delicious and the perfect cup of tea on a cold day.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Incredible Cranberry Flavor: This recipe uses classic ingredients like cranberries, cinnamon, and cloves, to give you a warm and comforting drink that’s perfect for the holiday season.
- Comfort in a Cup: There’s nothing better than sipping on a hot, flavorful drink on a cold winter day. This cranberry tea is like a warm hug in a cup, and it’s sure to brighten up even the dreariest of days.
- Family Favorite: It’s a recipe that’s been passed down in my family for generations, and it’s always a hit at our holiday gatherings.
- Perfect for the Holidays: The warm, festive flavors of this cranberry tea make it the perfect drink to serve at any holiday gathering. Plus, it’s a great non-alcoholic option for your guests.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Key Ingredients
- Raw Cranberries: These tart little berries are the star of the show, adding a burst of color and a tangy flavor to the tea.
- Water: The liquid base of the recipe, water is used to simmer the cranberries and infuse the other ingredients.
- Whole Cloves: These aromatic flower bud of the clove tree add a warm, sweet, and a slightly bitter flavor to the tea.
- Whole Cinnamon Sticks: They add a sweet and warm aroma to the tea along with a subtle spice flavor.
- Lemon: This citrus fruit is used for its juice and zest, which will add a zesty and tangy flavor to the tea.
- Apple Juice Concentrate: This sweetener not only sweetens the tea but also adds a delicious apple flavor that pairs perfectly with the cranberries.
Equipment
- Stockpot – You’ll need a large stockpot to cook the cranberries with water, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. This is where the magic happens!
- Strainer – A strainer is essential for separating the cooked cranberries from the liquid. This ensures a smooth, pulp-free cranberry concentrate.
- Large Bowl – You’ll need a large bowl to mix the cranberry liquid with the lemon juice and apple juice concentrate. This is also where you’ll strain the mixture for the final time before transferring it to a container.
How to Make Cranberry Tea
Preparation
Start by gathering all your ingredients and thoroughly rinse your cranberries.
Step 1 – Cook the Cranberries
In a large stockpot, combine the rinsed cranberries, water, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Cook this mixture for 15 minutes until the cranberries are popped and gushy.
Step 2 – Strain the Cranberry Mixture
While the cranberry mixture is still hot, strain it into a large bowl to remove the solid bits. This will leave you with a smooth, liquid cranberry base.
Step 3 – Add the Other Ingredients
To the strained cranberry mixture, add the lemon juice and apple juice concentrate. Stir well to combine these ingredients.
Step 4 – Strain the Mixture Again
Strain the cranberry, lemon, and apple juice concentrate mixture one more time. This time, strain it into a glass quart-size container.
Step 5 – Prepare the Cranberry Tea Concentrate
When you’re ready to serve the cranberry tea, pour the boiling water over the cranberry mixture concentrate. Stir well to combine.
Step 6 – Serve the Cranberry Tea
Your cranberry tea concentrate is ready to serve. Simply pour 1 cup of the concentrate into a mug and add 1 cup of hot water. Stir, and enjoy your delicious, homemade cranberry tea.
Expert Tip
To make sure your cranberry tea is bursting with flavor, don’t skip the step of straining the cooked cranberry mixture. This extra step helps to remove any solids and gives you a smooth, delicious tea concentrate.
Recipe Variations
- Orange Twist: For a citrusy twist, add the juice and zest of an orange to the cranberry mixture. This will add a bright, fresh flavor to your cranberry tea.
- More Spice: If you’re a fan of spiced drinks, feel free to add more cloves and cinnamon to the recipe. You can also throw in a few cardamom pods for a more complex spiced flavor.
- Sweeter: This recipe is on the tart side, which I love, but if you prefer a sweeter tea, you can add more apple juice concentrate or a bit of honey to the cranberry mixture.
What to Serve With
- For a refreshing summer drink, serve your cranberry tea over ice with a slice of lemon.
- If you’re hosting a brunch, pair this tea with your favorite pastries. The tartness of the cranberry tea complements the sweetness of the pastries, making for a well-balanced meal.
- During the winter months, serve it hot with a cinnamon stick. The warmth of the tea, combined with the aroma of the cinnamon, will make your home feel extra cozy.
Make Ahead Instructions
This recipe for cranberry tea makes a concentrate that you can enjoy for days! Simply follow the recipe and mix it with water whenever you’re in the mood for some cranberry tea.
Recipe FAQs
You can use fresh or frozen raw cranberries for this recipe. Just make sure they are not sweetened or dried.
Straining the cooked cranberry mixture is an important step as it helps to remove the pulp and any solid pieces, giving your tea a smoother consistency.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: You can store the cranberry tea concentrate in a mason jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this tea as it can alter the flavor and texture of the drink.
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This cranberry tea recipe yields about 20 cups of delicious cranberry tea.
- How to Scale: If you’re expecting a larger crowd or just want to have some extra tea on hand, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure to use a large enough pot to accommodate the increased quantity and follow the rest of the instructions as directed.
Cranberry Tea
Ingredients
- 24 oz bag of fresh cranberries
- 4 cups water
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 lemon
- 12 oz canister of frozen 100% apple juice concentrate
Instructions
Cranberry Tea Concentrate Instructions
- Rinse your cranberries with cold water and place them in a large stockpot. Pour four cups of water over them. Stir in 2 whole cinnamon sticks and 6 whole cloves and turn on the heat.
- Cook the cranberries for 15 minutes on medium high heat until they have popped open and are soft. While still hot, carefully strain the cooked cranberry mixture into a large bowl.
- Add lemon juice and apple juice concentrate to the bowl. Strain your cranberry, lemon and apple concentrate one last time into a glass quart size container.
How to Make The Tea
- When ready to serve, pour 4 cups boiling water over 1 cup of concentrated cranberry mixture. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2016. The instructions have been updated to make them more concise and clear. The recipe remains the same.
I tried out this recipe because I inherited some frozen cranberries. I really like how this isn’t overly sweet! I used unsweetened apple juice concentrate, so the sweetness comes from the fruits. I’ll be buying my own cranberries to make again!
I’m glad you liked it, Elita! I’m going to make myself a batch soon as well 🙂
I had the cranberries so started the process. Will freeze the cranberry concentrate until I can get lemon and frozen apple juice concentrate. Looking forward to having this tea.
Es una delicia bien fácil de hacer. La recomiendo.
Delicious and easy to make!
Thank you Marieolas!
Yummy! Orange concentrate would be good too! Hope you enjoy this variation to your mom’s recipe 🙂
Wow this is so close to a Christmas Cranberry Tea that my mom has been making for ages with different variations like orange juice concentrate instead of apple and some Sugar thrown in. I am going to try your recipe on my very next batch. Its so exciting to try something so similar but with such distinct variations!