Cozy Cranberry Herb Blend (Printable)

A warm blend of cranberries, rosemary, thyme, and orange for cozy moments.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fruits & Herbs

01 - 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
02 - 2 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
03 - 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
04 - 1 small orange, sliced

→ Sweetener (optional)

05 - 2 to 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, to taste

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups water

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium saucepan, add cranberries, rosemary, thyme, orange slices, and water.
02 - Heat over medium until the mixture reaches a gentle boil.
03 - Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, gently mashing cranberries with a spoon to release flavor.
04 - Remove from heat and strain the tea into mugs using a fine-mesh sieve.
05 - Stir in honey or maple syrup to taste if desired, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It fills your kitchen with an aroma so inviting that people will ask what you're making before they even step inside.
  • No special equipment or technique required—just a saucepan and 15 minutes of your time.
  • The tartness of cranberries paired with warm herbs creates a flavor that feels naturally sophisticated without trying too hard.
  • Completely customizable based on what's in your pantry and what your mood calls for that day.
02 -
  • The cranberries absolutely must be mashed during simmering—this is what releases their flavor and color, and skipping this step means a pale, weak tea instead of the deeply flavored one you're going for.
  • Don't over-simmer past 10 minutes or the herbs can become bitter; I learned this the hard way by letting one pot go for 20 minutes while I got distracted.
  • Fresh herbs will always taste brighter than dried, but dried herbs are more forgiving and actually easier to manage if you don't have fresh on hand.
03 -
  • Use a wooden spoon for mashing rather than a metal one—it's gentler and won't bruise the delicate saucepan coating, and it just feels nicer in your hand while you're cooking.
  • The orange slices don't have to be removed before serving; many people leave them in the mug and nibble on them as they sip, which is both delicious and gives you something to do with your hands.

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