Cinnamon-Star Anise Green Tea

Green tea pouring
Andrew Unangst / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 2 to 4 servings

This delicious and easy-to-make green tea beverage is flavored with aromatic star anise and cinnamon sticks. Fragrant and warming, the drink has the earthy flavor of green tea leaves, balanced by the licorice touch of the anise and the slightly spicy cinnamon. You need just three ingredients plus boiling water, and ideally, a warmed teapot. This recipe makes four cups, so it's great for when you're having guests and want to offer something different than plain tea or black coffee. Though delicious without sugar, you can always add some to taste, or a few drops of agave, stevia, or monk fruit. Scale it up or down to make more or less, but don't miss out on this effortless drink, ready in just 10 minutes.

Great as a first-in-the-morning calming beverage, this tea is a great digestive aid and a comforting drink for cold nights. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and catechins, components that have been proven to aid with gastrointestinal discomforts. Used for centuries in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine as a diuretic to flush retained water and as an aid in cardiovascular health, green tea is a budget-friendly ingredient that you can incorporate into your diet with little effort. Found in loose leaves or tea bags, green tea comes in many different types. Its flavor depends on how it has been processed. Hojicha, Gyokuro, Sencha, Kabusehca, and the now-famous Matcha are just a few of the many kinds of green tea. For this recipe, use what you can find, but if possible use loose leaves instead of bags.

Star anise, which is different than aniseed, is the fruit of an evergreen tree that is dried before it can ripen. Its beautiful shape and pungent flavor have made this spice a key component in many cuisines. It has been incorporated in mixed spices for centuries to make dishes and beverages. Star anise is easily found in most stores, and some do carry the whole pods, while most have the broken pieces which are also cheaper. Both star anise and cinnamon sticks are great spices to have at home, and they can last for a few months if kept in a dry and dark pantry well sealed from humidity. The three of these ingredients combined into one beverage will make you a convert—that favorite cup of black coffee might take the back seat after you've tried this once.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons green tea, loose-leaf; or 4 green tea bags

  • 1 stick cinnamon, broken into pieces

  • 8 whole star anise, or 1 1/2 tablespoons broken star anise pieces

  • 4 cups boiling water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place the tea leaves or tea bags into a pre-warmed teapot and set aside.

  3. Put the cinnamon stick and star anise into a 4-cup heatproof measuring cup and add the boiling water. Stir to mix, then infuse for 2 minutes.

  4. Quickly pour the infusion into the teapot, straining carefully to keep the cinnamon and star anise from going into the teapot. Steep the tea in the spice infusion for 2 minutes.

  5. Strain the brewed tea into teacups and serve immediately.

  6. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
2 Calories
0g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 2
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 8mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Article Sources
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  1. Xing L, Zhang H, Qi R, Tsao R, Mine Y. Recent advances in the understanding of the health benefits and molecular mechanisms associated with green tea polyphenolsJ Agric Food Chem. 2019;67(4):1029-1043. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b06146