Orange and spice tea is delicious, especially in the fall. There’s something undeniably comforting about sipping a fiery cup of tea that combines citrus and spice. You can also add kratom and a twist of orange peel to your orange and spice tea to transform it into an iced or hot non-alcoholic fall cocktail.
There are a few brands that sell pre-mixed orange and spice tea blends which we’ll review below, but you can also easily put together a homemade orange and spice blend. In fact, you probably already have all of the ingredients you’d need on hand.
Benefits of Orange and Spice Tea
Cinnamon, orange peel, and the other ingredients used to make various orange and spice tea recipes are fantastic when it comes to supporting wellness.
Like many fruits, oranges store a significant percentage of nutrients and aromatic compounds in their peels. Orange peels are rich in flavonoids and vitamin C. Instead of tossing the orange peel when juicing an orange, saving a bit of it to infuse into teas can not only add a bright flavor but also elevate your drink’s nutritional value.
Some other common benefits people tout in other orange and spice tea recipes include:
- Gastrointestinal upset and gas reduction
- Immune boost
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Hormone regulation
- Antioxidant properties
- Cardioprotective effects
However, there’s a big caveat here. Many of these health benefits have only been demonstrated in scientific studies where individuals consume large amounts of an ingredient every day for multiple weeks, or where they consume an extract of one active compound (like cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon or hesperidin from orange peels). Plus, this research isn’t always done with humans.
There is still a good amount of anecdotal evidence for the soothing properties of orange and spice tea, so don’t let this caveat dissuade you from trying it.
Mind Your Ingredients for Maximum Benefits
There are two more notes of caution we have for you when considering the health effects of orange and spice tea:
- First, fruits like oranges can harbor pesticide residues and may be coated in wax to increase their shelf life. Choose your oranges or your orange peel tea wisely, and consider removing the wax before starting your brew.
- Second, be careful when choosing your herbs and spices, because not all varieties are equal. For example, while Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and Chinese cinnamon (also called cassia cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum) may both have health benefits, Chinese cinnamon contains high levels of coumarins. These are plant compounds that are safe in small amounts, but in larger amounts may have carcinogenic and hepatotoxic effects.
- Third, you should be mindful when choosing between different brands. Even if you are using a plant species that is typically considered safe, the quality can differ between products. Natural products may harbor contaminants like heavy metals, bacteria, yeast, and mold, so find brands that adhere to high natural product quality standards and do lab testing.
Lastly, if you want to keep this brew as beneficial as possible, just don’t go overboard with added sweeteners. It’s quite easy not to anyways, because the orange juice and certain spices like cinnamon and star anise provide a natural sweetness to the brew.
Top Orange and Spice Tea Brand Reviews
There isn’t one standard ingredient list for spiced orange tea that you’ll find in supermarkets or online. We reviewed a range of brands that make tea blends with both orange and spices so you can get an idea of what’s out there.
The first is a classic blend with a prominent orange flavor and the second is a chai blend that has orange peel with a kratom leaf base. The third tea we tried is a blend with ginger and orange that’s made to taste like a mocktail, and the last on our list has a sweet and spicy flavor with a caffeinated black tea base.
1. Orange and Spice — Orange, Rose Hip, and Chicory Blend — Bigelow
Bigelow’s orange and spice tea is first on the list because it’s one of the most widely available orange spice teas. It’s well-loved by those with a more sensitive palate, and you can find it easily in stores and online.
Potential Cons: Some people find it doesn’t have enough flavor. Since it’s herbal, you can brew with two tea bags without worrying about adding too much caffeine or making the tea overly bitter. This does mean you get less bang for your buck.
Ingredients: Rose hips, spices, hibiscus, orange peel, roasted chicory, natural orange flavours (soy lecithin).
Cost: $3.49 for 20 tea bags (42 grams total). Cost may vary from store to store.
2. Chai Unwind — Spice Tea with Orange Peel and Kratom Base — Top Tree Herbs
If you prefer a tea that’s heavier on the spice and has wellness benefits you can actually feel after drinking it, then Top Tree’s Chai Unwind spiced kratom tea is a winner.
The red vein kratom makes this tea relaxing and comforting, while the orange peel and chai spices add warmth and brightness. To make it extra citrusy, you can brew it with fresh orange slices—just follow the second recipe below. Alternatively, it’s great with a splash of your favorite milk or creamer.
Related: Creamy Iced Kratom Chai Recipe
Other Pros: The orange peel and spices in this tea are all organic, and the kratom is lab tested for contaminants.
Ingredients: Red vein kratom leaf, organic herbal chai blend (rooibos, chamomile, carob, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, orange peel, natural flavor).
Cost: $21 for 14 tea bags (70 grams) or $15.75 if you subscribe or buy multiple boxes. The spiced chai flavor is just $2 more than a box of original kratom tea, so it’s a steal if you would otherwise combine a plain kratom tea bag with a flavored herbal tea bag.
3. Moscow Mule Cocktail — Ginger and Orange Tea — Tealyra
Love orange and a hint of heat, but not a huge fan of cinnamon? Try the Moscow Mule Cocktail tea blend from Tealyra. On top of the orange wedges, the blend has lime, so the citrus flavor is really bold.
It also has crystallized ginger, which is not only delicious—if you start eating pieces straight out of the bag, we won’t judge you—but gives the tea bonus points because you don’t really need to sweeten it. Just brew it up and you’re ready to go. You can also chill it and serve it over ice to replicate a Moscow Mule more closely.
Ingredients: Ginger, crystallized ginger (ginger, sugar), hibiscus, aloe vera, lime, orange wedges, natural flavor, peppermint.
Cost: $8.50 for 100 grams of loose leaf tea, $15.50 for 200 grams.
4. Hot Cinnamon Spice — Black Tea with Orange and Spices — Harney & Sons
Fans (and critics) of Harney & Son’s Hot Cinnamon Sunset liken it to Red Hots candy. The sweet cloves and heavy cinnamon flavor give it more of a saccharine heat than what you’d find in other orange and spice tea blends.
Ingredients: Black tea, orange peel, natural and artificial cinnamon flavor, cinnamon, cloves.
Cost: $9.45 for a tin of 20 sachets (40 grams).
Homemade Spiced Orange Tea Recipes
We’ve got two easy recipes on deck for you. Both are soothing and flavorful, but there are a couple of key differences.
- In the first recipe, there are more ingredients because you don’t start out with a pre-mixed spiced tea blend. The total brewing time is slightly shorter. You can optionally add some black tea, which will add a caffeine boost but will also make your blend a bit more bitter.
- In the second recipe, we use a spiced kratom tea bag, which contains spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, as well as orange peel. That means the prep for this recipe is easier. Kratom tea is soothing and may help you focus as black tea would, but it’s completely caffeine-free.
Recipe 1: Easy Orange and Spice Tea (Caffeine Optional)
Prep time: 4 minutes
Cook time: 13 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups filtered water
- ½ large cinnamon stick or 1 small cinnamon stick (Ceylon variety)
- 2 cloves
- Rind of 1⁄8 orange (avoid the white pith)
- Juice of 1 orange (about ¼ cup)
- Optional: 1 tsp loose leaf black tea
- Optional: 1-2 tsp brown sugar or agave
Directions
- Add water, cinnamon stick, and cloves to a small saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat. Brew at a low simmer for about 3 minutes.
- Add the orange juice and orange rind, then remove from heat.
- Stir in sweetener, then add black tea if desired. Allow to steep for 3-5 minutes depending upon desired strength.
- Strain the tea and serve it hot OR transfer it to a heat-safe jar and place it in the fridge to chill, then serve it with ice.
Notes
You can swap out or add a range of spices to your orange and spice tea. If you add more ingredients without removing any, you may want to add a bit more water and orange juice so the spice isn’t overpowering. Here are a few recs:
- 1-2 thin slices of fresh ginger root
- Half of an anise star
- 1-2 crushed cardamom pods
- 1⁄8 vanilla bean
- 1-2 whole peppercorns
Recipe 2: Spiced Kratom Tea with Fresh Orange Juice
Prep time: 3 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 Chai Unwind kratom tea bag
- Juice of 1 orange (about ¼ cup)
- Optional: 1-2 tsp brown sugar or agave
Directions
- Bring water to a boil and warm the orange juice in the microwave or a saucepan. Add the water, juice, and spice tea bag to a thermos or insulated mug.
- Cover and leave the tea bag to steep for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag, then add your (optional) sweetener.
- Drink hot OR transfer to a heat-safe jar and chill tea in the fridge, then serve over ice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information for either recipe with 1 tsp brown sugar: Calories: 41 kcal | Total Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 2 mg | Total Carbohydrates: 11.5 g | Dietary Fiber: 0.2 g | Sugars: 10.8 g | Protein: 0.5 g | Vitamin C: ~30% DV
More Spiced and Citrusy Recipes
Give these recipes a shot if you love fruit-infused teas and spiced blends like the orange and spice recipes above, then you’ll love one of these recipes:
- Lemon ginger agave kratom tea recipe: a dreamy balance of heat, sweetness, and vanilla creaminess. Delicious and soothing with red vein kratom tea.
- Chai latte with red vein tea: a classic spiced latte with kratom tea for balance and comfort. You can make it with whole spices like the first orange and spice tea recipe above, or use a Chai Unwind tea bag like in the second recipe.
- Cinnamon ginger kratom tea: a simple and bright recipe that also has depth and provides really great warmth.
- Non-alcoholic relaxing sangria: if you’re looking for an alcohol alternative for a holiday gathering (or just feel like treating yourself with a specialty brew), give this red vein sangria a try.
Feel free to get creative with your own spice additions and recipes, and let us know which one becomes your new favorite fall sip.
