As someone who celebrates Christmas, I at first wanted to call this beverage “Christmas tea.” But I couldn’t for the life of me understand why that name sounded so familiar. Why, I wondered, did I want to spell it “tee” instead of “tea?” Then it hit me: Christmas tree! Ha! So cranberry rosemary tea it was.

This infusion, made only of a sprig of rosemary and a handful of cranberries, is a wonderful way to use two aromatic, nearly medicinal ingredients that are in surplus this time of year.

Cranberries

Stock up on the post-Thanksgiving sale on cranberries!

You may already be aware that cranberries are good for urinary tract health. They’re high in vitamin C and contain many antioxidants to help the body stay inflammation-free. Cranberries are commonly consumed through cranberry juice or cranberry sauce, but there are certainly other ways to add this fruit to your life. I like to freeze half my cranberries to add to smoothies and keep half in the fridge to add to teas, such as cranberry rosemary tea!

Rosemary

If you live in a temperate, dry climate–or even a subtropical one like me–then it’s not a bad idea to buy one of those Christmas-tree shaped rosemary plants that fill the grocery stores this time of year. Several years ago, my dad bought one for my mom. She planted it, and today, it’s gigantic and prolific! (And still the source of my rosemary teas.) Rosemary also has a lot of great qualities including anti-inflammatory benefits. Just be careful: moderation is always best, and it’s not safe to consume rosemary tea if you’re pregnant or taking certain medications.

How to make cranberry rosemary tea

Pretty simple!

Take a handful of cranberries (about five) and a sprig of rosemary 2-3 inches long. Wash both and place them in a mug.
Add a cup of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, remove the rosemary sprig and crush the cranberries with the back of a spoon.
Five minutes later, strain the cranberries and enjoy!