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    Home » Recipes » Snacks and Beverages

    Easy Homemade Cinnamon Tea (Hot or Iced)

    Published: Dec 9, 2020 · Modified: Jun 26, 2024 by Jenny Meier

    Jump to Recipe

    An easy 2-ingredient recipe for invigorating homemade cinnamon tea that can be served cold over ice or in a hot mug. This recipe includes both stove top and Instant Pot instructions.

    mug of cinnamon tea surrounded by cinnamon sticks, lemon and honey

    Cinnamon tea is a soothing remedy for colds and a sore throat. It's also a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. I love cinnamon iced tea during the summer!

    Homemade cinnamon tea (also called canela tea) has a natural flavor that comes across as sweet and spiced, without tasting too spicy. Your house will smell amazing when you make this aromatic tea.

    If you want a remedy with more kick to it, try my Winter Elixir made from ginger, turmeric and cinnamon.

    You might also enjoy garlic, ginger and lemon tea, which is more savory than sweet. For a cozy treat, try maple syrup coffee. For a refreshing frozen treat, try watermelon popsicles.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Cinnamon Tea (Stove Top or Instant Pot)
    • Add More Flavor
    • FAQ About Cinnamon Tea
    • Delicious Treats to Enjoy with Tea
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients

    To make cold or hot cinnamon tea, you only need two ingredients, cinnamon sticks and water.

    Cinnamon sticks.

    How to Make Cinnamon Tea (Stove Top or Instant Pot)

    You can prepare homemade cinnamon tea on the stove top or in a pressure cooker. I prefer using my Instant Pot, because the flavor is richer and the tea is ready faster.

    Stove Top Instructions: Combine water and cinnamon sticks. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat let the tea steep until desired flavor is reached.

    Pressure Cooker Instructions: Combine water and cinnamon sticks. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, with a natural release.

    For detailed instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    Cinnamon sticks brewing in a small pot of water.

    Add More Flavor

    This tea has a subtle, gentle flavor. If you want to add more flavor, consider adding one of the following ingredients to the water before you brew the cinnamon tea.

    • Fresh orange peel
    • 1-inch knob of fresh ginger, smashed or sliced (for cinnamon ginger tea)

    For more flavor, add any of these ingredients after the tea has already brewed.

    • Squeeze of lemon or orange juice
    • Splash of apple cider vinegar
    • Honey, to make cinnamon honey tea (or your favorite sweetener)
    • Black tea bag (1 or 2 tea bags - let steep for about 4 minutes)
    • Caffeine-free rooibos tea (1 or 2 tea bags - let steep for about 4 minutes)
    • Masala chai tea (1 or 2 tea bags - let steep for about 4 minutes)
    • Chamomile tea bags (1 or 2 tea bags - let steep for about 4 minutes)
    • A few drops of echinacea or other herbal remedy
    • Black pepper, for more spice
    A glass of iced cinnamon tea.

    FAQ About Cinnamon Tea

    What exactly is cinnamon?

    Cinnamon is tree bark from a tropical evergreen tree. Here's an interesting video that shows how cinnamon bark is harvested.

    What are the main types of cinnamon?

    According to The Spice House, there are over 250 plant species in the cinnamon genus. The main varieties of culinary cinnamon are Ceylon, Cassia and Saigon.

    If you're buying cinnamon sticks in an American grocery store, it's most likely Cassia cinnamon. You might also be able to find ceylon cinnamon sticks.

    Does it matter what type of cinnamon sticks are used for this recipe?

    I use generic cinnamon sticks from the grocery store, which are most likely cassia cinnamon. You can experiment with different types of cinnamon, and see which type you like best.

    I've noticed that some grocery store brands of cinnamon sticks have more flavor than others, so if your tea doesn't have enough flavor, this might be why. Buying tea from a spice company usually will get you more flavorful cinnamon sticks, because the quality is higher and they are fresher.

    Can I reuse the cinnamon sticks after making a batch of tea?

    Cinnamon sticks lose most of their flavor after one brewing. However, instead of throwing the sticks out, they can still add a lovely scent to a pot of simmered pot pourri to make your house smell nice.

    What are the health benefits of cinnamon?

    There are many claims of cinnamon tea benefits for health. It is thought to be a remedy for menstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, weight loss, chronic inflammation, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and heart disease. It is best to consult your doctor before drinking cinnamon tea for any health benefit.

    Can I make this tea using ground cinnamon?

    You can, although the flavor won't be quite the same and the tea might have a slightly gritty texture. Try adding 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to every 3 cups of water.

    Delicious Treats to Enjoy with Tea

    • squares of almond butter chocolate chip bars
      Almond Butter Bars
    • homemade nut-free granola bars made with sunflower seed butter and chocolate chips
      Nut Free Granola Bars (Easy, No-Bake)
    • Squares of granola bars made from almond butter, dark chocolate, coconut, pecans and chia seeds
      Chia Bars
    • Granola in a bowl with yogurt and fruit.
      Cinnamon Granola
    Print

    📖 Recipe

    Cinnamon Tea Recipe

    A mug of tea next to cinnamon sticks and lemon slices.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 5 reviews

    Cinnamon tea can be served hot or cold. It's soothing on a cold winter day and refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. You can make this tea on the stove top or in a pressure cooker. 

    This recipe was updated December 15, 2021

    • Author: Jenny Meier
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Snacks, Treats & Little Things
    • Method: Instant Pot or Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 6 cups water (regular tap water or filtered water)
    • 6 cinnamon sticks

    Instructions

    Stove-Top

    1. Bring water to a boil.
    2. Add cinnamon sticks.
    3. Turn down the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
    4. Turn off the heat and let the cinnamon sticks steep until the desired flavor is reached. You can remove the cinnamon sticks right away, or let the cinnamon sticks steep in the water for up to an hour. 

    Pressure Cooker

    1. Combine water and cinnamon sticks in an electric pressure cooker (I use an Instant Pot)
    2. Secure the lid and cook for 5 minutes at high pressure
    3. Let the pressure release naturally (takes about 20 minutes)
    4. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Enjoy the hot tea immediately, or store the tea in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

    Notes

    This tea will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can drink it cold or reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.  

    Read the blog post above for additional ingredients that can be added after the tea is brewed. I like adding a squeeze of lemon. You can also add ingredients like honey, orange juice, drops of echinacea or apple cider vinegar.

    You can combine cinnamon stick tea with other types of tea by adding 2 tea bags to the hot water after brewing the cinnamon tea. An herbal tea like chamomile or caffeinated tea like black tea are both good. Let the tea bags steep for about 4 minutes.  

    Please rate and review this recipe!

    Your reviews help other readers. They also help me provide the best recipes possible. Thanks!

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    • Homemade almond butter granola bars.
      Almond Butter Granola Bars
    • A mug of maple flavored coffee with foamy milk on top and a tiny stirring spoon filled with maple syrup.
      Maple Syrup Coffee
    • a mug of savory broth with a lemon slice
      Garlic Ginger and Lemon Broth or Tea
    • A bright red watermelon popsicle in a homemade popsicle mold.
      Healthy Frozen Watermelon Lime Popsicles

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Carol

      July 10, 2024 at 5:58 am

      When I use ground Ceylon cinnamon in my tea, it doesn’t seem to dissolve, but floats on top. How can I fix this?

      Reply
      • Jenny Meier

        July 12, 2024 at 6:50 pm

        When using ground cinnamon, it won't dissolve fully into the tea. I'd recommend straining the tea through cheesecloth. Hope that works for you!

        Reply
    2. Mamokwena Jane Mosiamang

      December 31, 2023 at 6:31 am

      can I use powder to make cinnamon tea

      Reply
      • Jenny Meier

        December 31, 2023 at 6:45 am

        Yes, you can. The tea might have a slightly gritty texture from the powder, but most of the powder usually settles on the bottom of the cup and tea will have a cinnamon flavor.

        Reply
    3. Angelee

      December 19, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      I just learned that cinnamon is a good cure for shingles and any viruses. That recipe was perfect for my friend who has shingles.

      Reply
    4. Anjali

      December 15, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      I had no idea it was so easy to make such a delicious tea from scratch using just cinnamon sticks and water! This hot cup of tea was the perfect pick me up this afternoon!

      Reply
    5. Vanessa

      December 15, 2021 at 4:03 pm

      Such a comforting drink for those winter colds that the kids seem to bring home!

      Reply
    6. Michelle

      December 15, 2021 at 3:09 pm

      I'm a sucker for "spiced" anything. This one checks all my boxes. I love it!

      Reply
    7. Irina

      December 15, 2021 at 2:22 pm

      I have heard about cinnamon tea as a remedy to a sore throat. Thanks for sharing the recipe. It's so in need during wintertime. 🙂

      Reply
    8. Heather Perine

      December 15, 2021 at 1:56 pm

      Came down with a cold last week, and been drinking this every day since! It's heavenly and reminds me of Christmas!

      Reply
    9. S.

      July 07, 2021 at 8:22 am

      This tea is really easy to make in the Instant Pot and I love the cinnamon flavor.

      Reply

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    Kitchen Skip foodblogger and recipe developer Jenny Meier

    Hi, I'm Jenny!

    I'm a food blogger with a culinary degree and a busy Mama of two who now works full-time in education. I create easy dinner recipes for busy parents like you!

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