Apple Tea

This time of year, I’m using up a lot of apples!  It kills me to see the peel going to waste when I need to have peeled apples for a recipe.  Luckily, those peels go into compost here, or better yet, into tea!!  It’s so easy and simple to make apple tea.  Generally it tastes like a weaker version of apple cider.  It has a very nice light, sweet taste.

Falling Day’s Apple Tea

Ingredients

• apple peels
• lemon juice
• spices (optional)
• honey, or other sweetener (optional)

Directions

1. Put your apple peels into a saucepan.
2. Cover with water (approx. 3-4 cups per 3-4 apples).
3. Add a little lemon juice, maybe about a tablespoon per 4 cups of water.
4. Throw in a cinnamon stick in if you like.
5. Bring to a boil, and boil covered for about 10 minutes.
6. Simmer for a little while, until the water is a rosy-sort of colour (well, depends on your apples really) and smells fragrant and appley.
7. Strain into a teapot.  Add honey here if you like, especially if you are going to cool your apple tea into iced apple tea.
8. If you didn’t add any cinnamon at step #4, you can add a stick directly to the pot or into the serving cup, if you like.

If you don’t have time to make your apple tea while you are in the middle of baking, etc., you can always throw them into a freezer bag (try to get all the air out) and freeze them.  Then when you are ready, take them out and follow the directions above (no need to thaw them or anything).  Enjoy!