Christmas Tea

Warm up your holidays with this fragrant, cozy Christmas tea. This tea recipe combines fruity, sweet-tart herbal tea and pomegranate juice with cinnamon, ginger and honey for a festive and nutritious holiday sip.

Named for its cheerful red color and warming winter-spice flavors, Christmas tea is perfect for sipping beside a twinkling tree or during a neighborhood holiday light stroll. It’s also lovely when you’re entertaining—you can easily scale the recipe to make a big batch and keep it warm in a slow cooker for holiday guests.

Christmas Tea Ingredients

• Spices: Fresh gingerroot adds a warm, zesty zing that balances the sweetness of the tea, while cinnamon sticks bring a festive sweet-and-spicy warmth and woodsy aroma. Skip ground spices, which can make the tea cloudy.
• Pomegranate juice: This sweet-tart fruit juice gives the tea a vibrant ruby red color and delivers a boost of antioxidants linked to impressive health benefits. Look for 100% juice without added sugars to control the sweetness.
• Herbal tea: You’ll need one dozen Raspberry Zinger tea bags to make a big pot of tea. This herbal blend keeps the tea caffeine-free, so it’s perfect for afternoon and evening sipping. Try brewing half raspberry and half black tea for a more robust flavor and pick-me-up.
• Honey: Our Christmas tea is naturally sweetened with light, floral honey. Start with less and adjust to suit your taste so it doesn’t end up overly sweet.
• Optional garnishes: Add pomegranate seeds and orange wedges to each mug for an extra-festive touch and added visual appeal.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the spice bag

Place the cinnamon sticks and freshly minced ginger on a double layer of cheesecloth. Bring the corners together and tie with kitchen string to form a little spice bag. Set aside.

Editor’s Tip: The bag contains the spices, so you get all the flavor without straining the tea. No cheesecloth? Fashion a spice bag out of a coffee filter or invest in a reusable tea infuser.

Step 2: Boil the liquids, then steep the tea

Combine the pomegranate juice with 2 cups of water in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then remove the pot from the heat. Add the raspberry tea bags and prepared spice bag to the hot liquid. Cover the pot with a lid and steep the tea for eight minutes.

Step 3: Finish and serve

Remove the tea and spice bags, then stir in the honey until it dissolves. Serve warm in mugs, garnished with pomegranate seeds, orange wedges and extra cinnamon sticks if desired.

Editor’s Tip: To keep your Christmas tea recipe warm for guests, pour it into a thermal carafe or a slow cooker set to low or warm.

Christmas Tea Variations

• Try a blend of teas: Swap in black or chai tea for half the Raspberry Zinger tea bags to create a darker, fuller-bodied tea with a hint of tart berry flavor. Using black tea will add gentle tannins and a bit of caffeine, making the drink perfect to serve with a holiday breakfast or brunch spread.
• Switch up the juice: Replace half the pomegranate juice with orange juice for a sweeter flavor and a bright citrus aroma. Or, for a fun twist, replace the pomegranate juice entirely with tart cranberry or cherry juice—both pair beautifully with the warm spices.
• Add other warming spices: Try tucking a few whole cloves, a star anise or peppercorns into the spice bag for a bolder, more aromatic brew.
• Make it sparkling: Chill the tea and serve it over ice, topped with a splash of sparkling water for a refreshing, festive mocktail. Garnish with pomegranate seeds, cranberries or a sprig of rosemary for extra fun.
• Swap the sweetener: Switch up the flavor using maple syrup, brown sugar or agave instead of honey.

How to Store Christmas Tea

If you have leftover tea, allow it to cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container or covered pitcher. If you added fresh garnishes to the tea, remove them before storing so they don’t alter the flavor over time. Store the tea in the fridge for up to one week.

Can you make Christmas tea ahead of time?

Yes! Christmas tea is a great make-ahead recipe, and it will develop a deeper flavor after it sits for a bit. Brew the tea as directed, then let it cool to room temperature. Store the tea in a covered pitcher or jar in the refrigerator two to three days in advance.

When you’re ready to serve, gently reheat the tea on the stovetop over low heat or in a slow cooker for entertaining. Or, serve it chilled over ice for a refreshing twist.

How do you reheat Christmas tea?

To reheat, pour the tea into a saucepan and warm gently over low heat until hot and steaming but not boiling. You can also warm individual servings in microwave-safe mugs for about one minute.

Christmas Tea Tips

Can I use ground spices instead of whole?

You could use ground cinnamon and ginger, but keep in mind that they’re too fine to steep in a spice bag and won’t fully dissolve. Ground spices can make the tea cloudy and give it a slightly gritty, not-so-merry texture. Whole spices infuse the tea with a cleaner, brighter flavor and are easy to remove once steeped so your tea stays clear and vibrant.

Does Christmas tea contain caffeine?

Nope! If you make this Christmas tea recipe as written, using Raspberry Zinger tea bags, it’s naturally caffeine-free—perfect for sharing with kids or sipping later in the day. If you’d like a more energizing tea, swap in your favorite black tea for half the herbal tea bags.

Can I serve Christmas tea cold?

Absolutely! Christmas tea is delicious served warm or chilled. Brew it as directed, then refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serve it over ice, and top each glass with a splash of sparkling water for a festive mocktail twist.

Can I double the recipe for a crowd?

Yes! To make a big batch of Christmas tea for a party, double the ingredients and brew the tea in a large stockpot. Transfer it to a slow cooker set to low or warm to keep it ready for guests.