Mulled Tea Poached Pears

Mulled tea is a delightful and aromatic beverage on its own, but you can also use it as an ingredient in various recipes to infuse dishes with its warm and spiced flavors. Here’s a recipe for Mulled Tea Poached Pears, a simple and elegant dessert:

 

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe pears (such as Bosc or Bartlett)
• 4 cups of mulled tea (use our special blend Christmas Brew)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1 orange, zest and juice
• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (optional, for serving)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Mulled Tea: Brew a strong and flavorful mulled tea by simmering black tea bags or loose tea leaves with a mix of spices and sweeteners. You can customize the tea with ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and a sweetener of your choice (such as honey or brown sugar). Once the tea is well-infused, strain it and set it aside.
2. Prepare the Pears: Peel the pears, leaving the stem intact. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pear to create a flat base so that they can stand upright.
3. Poach the Pears: In a large saucepan, combine the mulled tea, cinnamon stick, cloves, sugar, lemon zest, and orange zest. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
4. Gently place the prepared pears into the simmering liquid, ensuring they are submerged. Cover the saucepan and let the pears poach for about 20-30 minutes or until they are tender. You can check for doneness by piercing them with a knife. The time may vary depending on the ripeness of the pears.
5. Remove the pears from the poaching liquid and set them aside to cool.
6. Reduce the Poaching Liquid: Continue to simmer the poaching liquid, uncovered, until it thickens and becomes syrupy, usually about 10-15 minutes.
7. Serve: Place each poached pear on a serving plate and drizzle the reduced poaching syrup over them. You can also serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for added indulgence.

This Mulled Tea Poached Pears recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy the flavors of mulled tea in a different culinary context. It’s a perfect dessert for a special occasion or a cozy evening at home.