SPICED CRANBERRY RUM TEA

Spiced Cranberry Rum Tea image

Yield Makes about 4 1/2 cups, serving 4 to 6.

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 cranberry herb tea bags such as Celestial Seasonings brand
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup cranberry juice
4 to 6 whole star anise (available at specialty foods shops and Asian markets)
Two 3-inch strips of orange zest removed with a vegetable peeler plus lemon slices for garnish
1 cup strained fresh orange juice
1 cup amber rum, or to taste

Steps:

In a saucepan submerge the tea bags in the boiling water and remove the pan from the heat. let the tea bags steep for 5 minutes and discard them. To the tea add the sugar, the cranberry juice, the star anise and the zests and simmer the mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in the orange juice and the rum and heat the mixture over moderate heat until it is hot. Discard the zests, divide the tea among heated mugs, and garnish each drink with 1 of the star anise and a lemon slice.