Each year with the first signs of fall Grandma Grace would make homemade spiced tea here in the house where we live. I remember her storing it in jars in the basement. I don’t know if it was just cool enough to keep it, or maybe there were secret ingredients added she didn’t want anyone to know about?! Whatever the reason, our basement during the fall reminds me of her spiced tea. Here is a recipe for both instant and homemade. The apricot jello in the instant recipe adds a little more zing.

Spiced Teas- Take Your Pick

“Friendship”

1 (18 oz.) jar Tang
1 to 1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 c. pre-sweetened lemonade mix
1 (3 oz.) pkg. apricot flavored Jello
1 (3 oz} pkg lemon flavored Jello
2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 -1 c. instant tea
Add 2-3 tsp of mixture to 1 cup water

“Old School” (homemade)

1 –2 quart size tea bags
4 cups cold water
½ -1 cup sugar
1 can frozen orange juice (Grandma used fresh squeezed oranges I’m guessing 3 or 4…use your taster)
Juice of 2 lemons
4 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks

Bring cold water to a boil then add cloves and cinnamon sticks. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Allow to steep for several minutes. Then remove tea bags. Add sugar and juice and return to simmer. Remove spices and serve…or store in your cool basement??, or better yet the refrigerator