With notes of honey and cinnamon, this alcohol-free version of a hot today channels the cozy warmth of the original, but with an added dose of heat from infused chiles. We use dandelion root tea in this toddy, which has a smooth flavor and detoxifying properties that we especially love during all the festivities of the holiday season.
Ingredients
- 6 cups of water
- 5 Tbs. (2 1/2 oz./75 g.) wildflower honey, or your favorite local honey, plus more to taste
- 6 spiced dandelion root tea bags
- 6 lemon slices, plus more for garnish
- 6 blood orange slices, plus more for garnish
- 6 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish
- 4 Thai chiles, or chiles of your choice, wrapped in a cheesecloth
- Fresh juice of 3 whole lemons
Directions
Pour the water into a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a simmer over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the honey until well combined. Add the tea bags, lemon slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and chiles. Let the mixture steep for 7 minutes.
Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust for sweetness and acidity as needed. Remove the chile bag from the pot and discard. Ladle the hot toddy into your favorite glass or mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick, a lemon slice and an orange slice. Serves 4 to 6.
—a twist on the William Sonoma Recipe