Farmer’s Garden Wassail

Here We Come a Wassailing

“ . . . Among the leaves so green . . .

Love and joy come to you,

And to you your wassail too,

And God bless you and send you a happy New Year,

And God send you a happy New Year.”

Makes 4 cups to be mixed into hot tea

Ingredients

4 cups water

2 small oranges, sliced into rounds

2 bags Earl Grey Tea

2 tablespoons whole cloves

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

3 small cinnamon sticks

2 stems rosemary

1 cluster juniper berries

1 recipe Farmer’s Tea (below)

Combine all ingredients in a small to medium-size pot and simmer on low heat, stirring as you pass by the stove. Mix into a batch of sweetened Farmer’s Tea. Chilled, this brew will last for a few days. Merry, merry!

Farmer’s Tea

Makes 2 pitchers

Ingredients

8 to 10 cups water, divided

4 tea bags, flavor of choice

1 tea bag Earl Grey

1 1/2 cups sugar

Lime wedge, for garnish

Bring 6–7 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add 4 bags of Lipton (or whatever brand you prefer) and 1 bag of Earl Grey and remove from heat. Let the tea bags steep for about 5 minutes near the warm eye of the stove.

In a separate saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups of sugar to about 2–3 cups of water (I use a 1: 2 ratio) over medium-low heat; stir until sugar is dissolved and the water becomes a somewhat clear syrup. If you let the sugar water continue to boil, you’ll have the makings for candy and not tea!

Combine the steeped tea and simple syrup in a large pitcher, or split between two half-gallon pitchers. If you’re using a glass pitcher, be sure to have a metal knife or spoon to pour the tea over so the hot liquid doesn’t bust the glass.

Fill the pot with the tea bags in it one more time with water and add that water to the pitcher; you can add a bit more water to suite your taste. Stir with a long knife or spoon. Serve over ice and with wedges of lime. Remember, tea continues to steep or “get stronger” as it sits, so it’s weakest when first made).