Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea Recipe
If you’re dreaming of something equally refreshing and cozy, you’ve found your next favorite drink: Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea. This sunny, spiced beverage blends the classic briskness of black tea with the heady aroma of cinnamon and a splash of fresh orange juice, making every sip taste like a summer afternoon with a hint of warmth. Whether you’re serving it at a party or pouring yourself a glass on a quiet day, this iced tea is simple yet spectacular, and you’ll find yourself craving it all year round.
Ingredients You’ll Need
All you need for this Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea are a handful of pantry staples and some fresh citrus. Each ingredient brings something special: color, aroma, or a punch of flavor. Let’s break down how each one adds magic to your glass.
- Water: The simple yet crucial base that lets every other ingredient shine in this iced tea.
- Black Tea Bags: Provides rich color and a robust, familiar tea flavor to anchor the drink.
- Cinnamon Sticks: Infuses warm spice and subtle sweetness, making each sip a little cozier.
- Sugar (or Honey): Sweetens things up perfectly, and you can adjust the amount or swap for honey to suit your taste.
- Juice of Fresh Oranges: Brings brightness and a smooth, juicy tang that feels summery and uplifting.
- Orange Slices (for garnish): Not just pretty—these add a burst of color and a little extra citrus essence in every glass.
How to Make Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea
Step 1: Boil the Water
Pour 4 cups of water into a medium pot and bring it to a rolling boil. You want plenty of bubbling action so your tea and cinnamon infuse perfectly. This is also a great time to gather your other ingredients and slice some extra oranges for later.
Step 2: Steep Tea and Cinnamon
Once the water is boiling, remove the pot from heat and quickly add in the black tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Let them steep for about 5 minutes. This step is where the magic happens—the tea goes deep and dark, and the cinnamon melts its cozy flavor right into the liquid. Don’t over-steep or your tea might turn bitter.
Step 3: Sweeten and Add Orange Juice
Take out the tea bags and cinnamon sticks, then stir in the sugar (or honey) while the tea is still hot, so it dissolves completely. Squeeze in the juice of two fresh oranges and drop in a handful of orange slices to infuse the tea with even more citrus aroma and color.
Step 4: Cool Down
Let the Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea cool to room temperature on the counter. Once it’s cooled off, pop it into the refrigerator and chill until it’s refreshingly cold—at least an hour, if you can wait that long!
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Fill glasses with ice, pour over the chilled tea, and garnish generously with extra orange slices. Every glass captures the perfect harmony of cool, bright, and spiced flavors.
How to Serve Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea
Garnishes
For an eye-catching finish, float additional orange slices and even a spare cinnamon stick in each glass. Mint leaves add a splash of green and extra freshness, elevating your iced tea from simple to spectacular.
Side Dishes
This charming beverage pairs wonderfully with light snacks like tea sandwiches, buttery shortbread cookies, or fruit salads. Go for flavors that highlight the citrus and spice, like almond biscotti or lemon bars.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve your Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea in a large glass pitcher filled with ice and orange rounds for a party-worthy centerpiece. For a personal touch, dress up individual glasses with fun straws or use mason jars for a rustic, Instagram-ready vibe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea covered in the refrigerator, ideally in a glass pitcher or airtight jar. The flavors stay bright and delicious for up to 3 days, making it easy to enjoy a cold, spicy-sweet sip whenever you like.
Freezing
For a cool twist, freeze leftover iced tea in ice cube trays. These cubes can chill your next batch without watering it down, or you can blend them for an instant tea slush on especially hot days.
Reheating
If you happen to prefer your tea warm (or want to repurpose leftovers), gently heat it in a saucepan over low heat. Just remember to take out any orange slices first to avoid bitterness, and never let it boil—you want the flavors to stay smooth and mellow.
FAQs
Can I use green tea instead of black tea?
Absolutely! Green tea brings a lighter, more delicate flavor to the Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea. Just keep an eye on steeping time, as green tea can get bitter if left too long.
Is this recipe good for make-ahead entertaining?
Yes, this iced tea is perfect for parties. You can prepare a whole pitcher the day before, and it tastes even better after the flavors have had time to mingle in the fridge.
Can I skip the sugar or swap for other sweeteners?
Definitely! Feel free to use honey, agave syrup, or even a sugar substitute if you want your Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea a bit lighter. Taste as you go and adjust to your preference.
What can I do with the leftover orange slices?
Add them to sparkling water for a citrusy lift, toss into a fruit salad, or freeze them in ice cubes to add color and flavor to future drinks.
Does this recipe work with decaffeinated tea?
Of course! Decaf black tea will work great, offering all the flavor of Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea without the caffeine—perfect for late-night sipping or serving kids.
Final Thoughts
If you love sharing little moments of joy, make a pitcher of Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea and see how quickly it brightens everyone’s day. It’s simple, memorable, and just the kind of treat you’ll want to serve again and again. Go ahead—try it soon and fall for the citrus-cinnamon charm in every glass!
Print
Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea Recipe
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea recipe is a refreshing twist on a classic favorite. The combination of black tea, cinnamon, and fresh orange juice creates a flavorful and aromatic beverage that is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Easy Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea:
- 4 cups water
- 3 black tea bags
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 cup sugar (or honey)
- Juice of 2 fresh oranges + orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- Boil water: In a medium pot, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil.
- Steep tea: Remove the pot from heat and add the tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Allow them to steep for 5 minutes.
- Add sweetener and orange: Stir in sugar until dissolved, then mix in the fresh orange juice and sliced oranges.
- Chill: Let the mixture cool to room temperature before refrigerating until thoroughly chilled.
- Serve: Pour over ice and garnish with additional orange slices. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Boiling, Steeping, Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea, Refreshing Drink, Summer Beverage
