My great aunt, Clarine Ivey, would bring this tea for us to enjoy at the family Christmas get-together. We would sip on the tea while catching up on family news and waiting on the meal.
8 plus 2 cups water
2 (family-size) large tea bags
2 cups sugar
3 or 4 sticks cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice
1 (12-ounce) can frozen orange juice, prepared
1 (6-ounce) can frozen lemonade, prepared
In a large saucepan bring 8 cups of the water to a boil. Add the tea bags and allow them to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. In a medium saucepan combine the remaining 2 cups water with the cinnamon and ground cloves. Bring this mixture to a boil, turn the heat down to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks and pour this mixture into the hot tea. Add the pineapple juice, orange juice, and lemonade. Mix well. Place in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator.
When you are ready to serve, put in mugs and heat in the microwave or heat desired amount in a saucepan on the stove and pour into mugs.
YIELD: ABOUT 5 QUARTS (20 CUPS)
Juanita Muse
Calhoun, Georgia