Description
Sweet Tea Harvest Punch is a refreshing and flavorful beverage perfect for fall gatherings. Made with a blend of unsweetened black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and natural honey sweetener, this punch can be enjoyed hot or cold with aromatic cinnamon sticks and fresh fruit slices.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Spices
- 1 orange – thinly sliced
- 1 apple – thinly sliced
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks – food grade
Liquid Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey – or to taste
- 2 cups unsweetened black tea
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup apple cider
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Thinly slice the orange and apple; set aside along with the cinnamon sticks for use in the punch.
- Make Cold Punch: In a pitcher or large punch bowl, combine the orange slices, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks. Pour in the honey, unsweetened black tea, orange juice, and apple cider. Stir thoroughly until the honey is well dissolved. Serve over ice in glasses.
- Make Hot Punch – Slow Cooker Method: Add the black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey to a slow cooker set on high heat. Once heated through, reduce the setting to keep warm. Serve hot with fresh orange and apple slices plus cinnamon sticks as garnish.
- Make Hot Punch – Stovetop Method: Combine the black tea, apple cider, orange juice, and honey in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Ladle the hot punch into heat-safe glasses and garnish with fruit slices and cinnamon sticks before serving.
- Serving Suggestions: For cold servings, pour over ice cubes. For hot servings, use heat-safe glasses. Optionally, add zero proof spirits like alcohol-removed champagne, non-alcoholic rum, whiskey, or tequila to taste for a festive twist.
Notes
- Store punch in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; stir well before serving.
- Adjust sweetness by adding honey gradually to taste.
- For sparkling punch, add alcohol-free brut champagne carefully, tasting as you go.
- Use food-grade cinnamon sticks suitable for beverages.
- Fruit slices enhance presentation and infuse flavor; remove before storing to prevent bitterness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 85 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
