Description
This Fall Sangria Recipe combines the warm flavors of honey bourbon with spiced chai tea, citrus zest, and fresh fruit for a refreshing and cozy autumn drink perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- Zest from 1 large orange
- Zest from 2 lemons
- 1¾ cups water
- ¼ cup granulated or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ginger paste or 1 4-inch knob ginger, thinly sliced
- 6 Chai decaffeinated tea bags (single-serve size)
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 4 cardamom pods
- 3-4 sticks cinnamon
Citrus Juices
- Juice from 1 large orange
- Juice from 5-6 medium lemons (about 1 cup)
Liquids
- 2 cups Honey Bourbon (Jim Beam works well)
- 1 750ml bottle Moscato (Mirassou works well)
- 1 teaspoon orange or regular bitters (optional)
Garnish
- Slices of pears
- Slices of star fruit
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Zest and Juice Preparation: Zest the orange and 2 lemons, placing the zest into a small saucepan. Then juice the orange and all the lemons over a medium-sized bowl and set aside for later use.
- Simmer Tea Mixture: Place the saucepan with the citrus zest over medium heat and add water, sugar, ginger paste (or fresh ginger slices), chai tea bags, whole cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticks. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Simmer and Cool: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the tea mixture to cool to room temperature.
- Strain and Combine: Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large pitcher and strain the cooled tea mixture to remove solids. Add the reserved orange and lemon juices, honey bourbon, Moscato wine, bitters if using, fruit slices of pears and star fruit, and additional cinnamon sticks. Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the sangria for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours to let the flavors meld. When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice, stir the sangria well, pour into glasses, and garnish each with slices of star fruit and pear for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Use decaffeinated chai tea bags for a less intense caffeine flavor and better evening drink option.
- Adjust the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of the Moscato and personal preference.
- Use fresh seasonal fruit for garnish to enhance the fall theme; pears and star fruit work beautifully but apples or oranges can be alternatives.
- Allowing the sangria to chill overnight improves flavor infusion for a richer taste experience.
- The choice of honey bourbon brands can affect sweetness and spice level; Jim Beam is recommended for balance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
