Hot Tea Recipes With Alcohol

There are many reasons we love hot cocktails. They're comforting, soothing and pack ample amount of well-hidden alcohol. With just a few sips, we're warmed both inside and out.

When we think of hot cocktails, coffee and whiskey are the typical fare, but in this lens take an open-minded look at hot tea with alcohol flavorings.

Here are four basic recipes to get you started and be sure to read about how to brew hot tea in the first section of this lens.

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Yep there are rules even for this

Here are a few before you get into the recipes below.

If you are careful, drinking hot tea will provide you more flavor and less numbness. There are some rules for brewing a cup of hot tea.

You are actually not supposed to boil the water because it scalds the tea and the flavor won't be what it's supposed to be. The water should be almost boiling for the best flavor.

Pour the water over the tea directly into the cup. Not the other way around - don't throw the tea to a cup already filled with hot water.

Always cover the cup with something (e.g. a small plate) for the entire time of steeping.

When steeping is done remove the leaves immediately.

Now use these basics to prepare these great hot tea recipes with alcohol.

By Kristina Walter (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This is one of the most common recipes using hot tea and alcohol together. It's a spicy tea drink with cloves, rum and cognac. The brewed clove flavor and dark rum gives an exotic-tasting cocktail that's unique from an ordinary hot cocktail.

Ingredients:

1 oz cognac

1 oz dark rum

1 cup brewed tea (as described above)

Several cloves

1/2 tsp honey

Pinch of nutmeg

Preparation:

Heat tea and other ingredients together in a saucepan. Serve hot with a cinnamon stick.

By hendrike (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

This sweet and warm drink only takes 15 minutes to prepare enough to share with you and someone else. It will be worth the time you take to prepare it and impress the one your with.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups nearly boiling water

1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

2 Tbsp. almond liqueur

1 Tbsp. orange liqueur (cointreau, grand mariner, or similar)

2 Lipton® White Tea with Blueberry & Pomegranate Flavor Pyramid Tea Bags

Preparation

Pour hot water over Lipton® White Tea with Blueberry & Pomegranate Flavor Pyramid Tea Bags; cover and brew 5 minutes. Remove Tea Bags. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve hot.

By johannrela (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

This is one is so simple to prepare and packs a traditional punch.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. rum

Ground Ginger to taste

Prepare a cup of your favorite hot tea (green, oolong, chamomile)

Mixing instructions:

Add Rum to hot tea. Add ginger to taste.Stir and Enjoy.

Darrin Antrobus [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

This recipe makes enough for your winter party to keep everyone warm. 14 cups of this hot fruity punch will surely be the talk of the evening. I'll bet none of you other friends served this at their party

Ingredients:

4 oz. curaçao

2 cups strong hot black tea (again brewed as instructed above)

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 750-ml. bottle dark rum

1 cup orange juice

brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey to taste (any of these provide the right sweetness)

Mixing instructions:

In a saucepan add hot tea, fruit juices, sugar, syrup, or honey, and mix well until all sweeteners are dissolved. Add curaçao and rum. Heat contents but do not allow them to boil. Stir well and serve in mugs.

By FASTILY (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

I hope that these starter recipes inspire you to step out of the normal and try hot tea with alcohol. Since January is National Hot Tea month it is a perfect time to try one of these recipes or browse cocktail book recipes and tea recipes to discover more.