{Thriving in Winter} Day 2: Curl (Recipe: Chai & Pumpkin Tea Flavouring Syrup)

Is there anything better than a hot drink? They makes the morning chill go away, make a warm winter evening seem special and make an evening curled up with a book or watching TV seem like an "event". Hot drinks are to winter as cocktail are to summer. It might seem like pumpkin spiced hot drinks are for fall, but that is just what Starbucks wants you to think. You can enjoy great drinks all winter (and even start in the fall if you want, I know I did tonight!), especially if you get yourself set up now.


I am not a coffee drinker, so for years I have felt like a bit of an outsider. But this is so silly! There are so many hot beverages, like hot chocolate, steamed milk, teas of all kinds, as well as hot cider, mulled wine and juices and hot toddies.

This is my favourite recipe for Homemade Flavouring Syrups. Each batch will make about 1 1/2 cups, or enough for about 24 cups of tea.

 Chai Flavour:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger
pinch freshly ground black pepper

 Pumpkin Flavour:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
4 tbsp. pure pumpkin puree (more to taste)
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice.  

In a small plastic container mix together the condensed milk and spices until well combine. Cover and store in the fridge. To use: brew a cup of black tea (or hot chocolate or coffee) as usual and add flavour to taste. Add additional cream or milk as desired. About 2 tsp. for slightly sweet, and 1 tbsp. for very sweet, milky tea. 

While you are in the business of making awesome hot drinks, how about getting a tea & coffee station ready? Simply clear an area on your countertop and place within it your kettle and coffeemaker. If there are shelves or cupboards above this area add your mugs and all your hot drinks like hot chocolate mix, coffee and teas. I also have a frother so that I can make steamed milk and frothed milk to make my drinks seem even cozier. Place some honey, and other sweeteners in the cabinet. Make sure you have your favourite dairy products, like cream or coffee whitener. I prefer to use the above syrups, or just milk.

If you don't have room in your cabinets to make a closed door station, make one on your counter, but try to make it pretty. Simply find a tray and display your items in nicer containers. You could move a selection of teas to a pretty bowl, your coffee to a air-tight canister and hot chocolate to a mason jar. Keep your honey and sweetener in this area too. Try to add a tray to corral all your items.

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Then have fun enjoying your favourite hot beverages and offering them to other members of your household and people who stop by! Now, you can quickly get warm right down to your toes and feel special all at the same time. Enjoy!

What's your favourite drink to curl up with? Please comment below!