The first work week in January is frequently an extended version of the Terrible-Horrible-No-Good-Very-Bad-Day.
Last night, after an endless day of hassles, we freezing inside the house, thanks to our resolve to lower the heating bills.
I cried out in desperation, "There is nothing to save me now except a wicked hot toddy!"
Like a magic genie, my partner Jon appeared out of the kitchen with a steaming snifter of hot brew in his hands.
He said, "I have just made the best hot toddy you've ever had in your life."
He deserved his conceit. I demanded a second. And then I made him write down his recipe:
Jonny's Hot Toddy
1.5 oz Brandy (or Bourbon or Whiskey)
1 Comfort & Joy Tea bag
1 c. hot water
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 T. pure maple syrup
Lemon peelBrew the tea and add lemon juice.
Add syrup to brandy; heat gently and swirl.
Pour brandy mixture, then tea, into a generous snifter (or your favorite cup of any description).
Garnish with lemon peel.
Drink!
What's so special about this tea?
"Comfort and Joy" is a "Republic of Tea" black tea blend mixed with apple bits, cinnamon, cloves, & licorice-flavor anise— the equivalent of mulling spices.
It's an inspired formula that makes you look like an award-winning mixologist when all you did was steep a tea bag.
We got a canister for Christmas— and behold, a happy accident.
Where can I get some?
While it lasts, at The Republic of Tea website. I just made a panicked order myself. They make limited edition teas for the holidays— the new one is Black Rose Petal, for Valentine's. Perhaps one of you will be clever & instruct me how to make a cocktail out of that!
Can't you just make a hot toddy for me right now?
Okay, I'll come close.
If you'd like to become a Proudly Paid Subscriber to my blog, go here, sign up— and then Email me your snail mail address.
I'll send the first 25 requests a "toddy-to-go" in an envelope.
I'll send you a tiny tin with five Comfort & Joy teabags in it, plus the handwritten recipe and a big smooch from me.
All you have to add is the hot water and liquor.
Why would I want to do that?
Just think of all the toasty fun you'll have reading my blog, toddy in hand!
A sub to my blog is $5 a month. If you don't like the blog— or the toddy— you can cancel at any time.
Just think, you'll help my fingers stay warm so I can continue to type through the frigid season! And, if you're ever over at my house on a wintry day, I will gladly serve you my top-drawer Toddy effort!
If You're Already One of My Beloved Subscribers...
If you're a veteran paid subscriber, email me, & I'll turn you on to a sample of my C&J stash. You are my rock, all of you. Thank you so much for supporting me the past year.
I have 25 of these little tins, and I'm waiting to see who knocks on the door first!
Note: I can only mail to addresses inside U.S...
Back to Toddy tinkering: Does the kind— or quality— of the liquor matter?
Yes to both. Spirits have complicated flavors, and part of the fun is toying with your taste buds. That said, you'll have a satisfying toddy whether you use brandy, bourbon, or whiskey— regardless of the brand.
What other kind of tea might be good?
I would try other teas that lend themselves toward wintry spices like cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg or licorice. I might try Darjeeling and add my own dehydrated apple bits or anise.
I would love to spend the rest of the winter experimenting in my barroom laboratory! The convenience of this "Comfort and Joy" blend was a fluke, but I intend to inspire The Republic of Tea to make it a regular feature.
Please add to our comments below if you come up with some killer recipes of your own!
P.S. Sorry the email newsletter/Twitter/RSS etc was screwed up to this link... I hope it's better now. Yet another example of this Week from the Damned. Both my computer and backup system are in repairs, I'm using an iPhone to post from... not my cup of tea!
