Loose or tea bags? Maybe it's something special Twinings put out for the holidays. You have a wonderful friend! I was just thinking of putting the kettle on; it's a cloudy, chilly day here. If I drink tea (or coffee) too late in the afternoon/early evening, it keeps me awake at night. But since you mentioned a spiced tea, I think I'll have just one cup of the Twinings Orange.

Yes, that's what my "instant" recipe calls for, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla non-dairy creamer, nonfat dry milk, and instant iced tea (no lemon). You end up with a bit of a spice slurry in the bottom of your cup. I don't make the mix anymore because I have found acceptable versions of chai tea mixes, (I like Tzazo tea) and then I just add my own hot milk, vanilla creamer and sugar to taste. I also have to limit my consumption of rich beverages like this. But here's the recipe. You can adjust the quantities to suit your own taste. Instant Chai 1 3/4 instant tea powder (plain) 1 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder 3/4 cup powderd non-dairy creamer 1 cup French vanilla flavored non-dairy creamer 5 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom 1/4 cup raw sugar (turbinado sugar or whatever it is called) 1 1/4 cup confectioners sugar 1 tsp. ground dried orange peel (optional) Mix this all together in the food processor. Now, if only I had written on here how much for a cup of tea! I think it's one or two heaping TBLSP. I have not tried this cold. I don't think this mix would work with cold water, the ingredients wouldn't dissolve. You'd have to make it hot and then cool it down in the fridge. Might as well make the real thing with real loose leaf tea and whole spices in that situation. But in the winter this is quick and delicious. If my memory serves me right, I seriously cut back on the non-dairy creamer and sugar in this recipe. Anyway, if you Google "instant chai recipes" you will find a gazillion similar recipes online. The basic principle ingredients are all there. I also think you could make a highly spiced simple syrup (concentrated sugar syrup) and keep it in the fridge and use that to sweeten iced tea with milk.

LOL, maybe it's lemon or something. I just made the "Favorite Chai Tea" on the link that I attached before. Yum, I'm having some now, looking out my window at a cold gray sky that may bring a few snow flurries our way. It's similar to spiced tea, but with some different spices, and I have honey and milk in mine per directions. A nice change from spiced tea. It probably would be more pungent if all my spices were really fresh. Some of the spices called for (cardamom, for instance) I'd had around a little while. As an added bonus it makes the house smell nice. Ingredients in the recipe are peppercorns, bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon stick, anise, ginger, cloves. This recipe didn't call for vanilla bean or nutmeg but that would be nice, too. Might add those next time. As I sip, I'm feeling like this would be really comforting to drink if I had a cold (but let's don't tempt fate!)

That poor dog. I am glad he got help in time. I won't buy their product but they probably state that you shouldn't leave your dog unattented with the product. That is to cover their butt. I made a link out of the web address so people can just click on it. Clare Here is a link that might be useful: The Chai Story