Homemade Warm and Cold Apple Tea (Healthy and Delicious!)

This Homemade Warm Apple Tea has a slightly sweet apple flavor with the undertone of cloves. It is a healthy herbal tea that can be enjoyed by anyone as it doesn’t include any caffeine. Served in glasses over ice, it makes a refreshing beverage any time of the year! However, it can also be served hot for a cosy drink in the fall and winter.

While it may seem different, it is very easy to make. Apples get combined with water, cloves, and bay leaves in a pot, and simmered on the stove to infuse the water with the taste of apples. Then, it is strained and cooled before serving. This tea is perfect served chilled and with ice on a hot summer day!

What is Apple Tea?

This apple tea recipe is an herbal tea that includes apples, bay leaves, cloves, and water. The mixture is simmered on the stove so that the flavoring ingredients infuse into the water. Then, it is either allowed to cool before being served in glasses or served hot.

Some apple tea recipes also include sweeteners like honey and other spices like cinnamon. Feel free to play with this apple tea recipe to make it your own!

Pro Tips

• Use fresh unblemished apples in this apple tea for the best flavor.
• If you would like your tea to have an even stronger apple flavor, you can cut the apples into wedges and remove their cores before adding them into the water.
• For added sweetness, feel free to stir some honey or sugar into the water mixture as it simmers.
• Don’t simmer the apples for too long or else they will break down in the water and the apple tea won’t have a clear appearance.
• For added flavor, you could add a cinnamon stick, star anise, or slices of fresh ginger to the water as it simmers.
• Feel free to replace the apples with pears instead.

What to Serve with Apple Tea?

This apple tea can be served in glasses with ice for a refreshing, cold beverage. It is also delicious served with orange or lemon slices and mint in the glasses.

Should I Serve Apple Tea Hot or Cold?

This apple tea recipe can be served hot or cold depending on your preference or the time of year. Having it cold makes it a great summer drink, whereas serving it hot will make it a cosy and perfect cold weather beverage.

What Types of Apples Should Be Used in Apple Tea?

You can use any apple you prefer for this apple tea, however, each will impart a different flavor. For example, honeycrisp, fuji, or macintosh will make a sweeter tea while Granny Smith will make the tea more tangy.

Can I Add Other Spices to Apple Tea?

Absolutely! Cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, star anise, and cardamom are all excellent spices to add to this apple tea recipe. You could also add sliced citrus to the tea for an extra flavor note.

How to Store Apple Tea

This apple tea can be stored in a pitcher in the fridge where it will keep for up to 1 week, so it's also actually perfect to make ahead of time!

Freezing, however, is not recommended, as once it's frozen, the tea will most likely lose all its subtle flavors.

How to Make Apple Tea

Place the apples in a pot with the cloves, bay leaves, and water. Allow the mixture to simmer for 30 minutes.

Strain it into a pitcher.

Serve it immediately in a cup or allow it to chill in the fridge.