Comforting Smoothie with Chamomile

by Anonymous

Russian tea, one of our favorite drinks when we were kids growing up in North Carolina, provided the inspiration for this comforting smoothie. The spicy blend of oranges, cloves, and tea is wonderfully soothing, especially when made with chamomile. Caffeine-free and oh-so relaxing, chamomile also aids in digestion, so the effects of a big meal no longer keep us awake at night.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups orange segments
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 ground cinnamon
pinch ground cloves
1 cup strong-brewed chamomile tea, made into ice cubes and crushed

Directions
Combine the orange segments, orange concentrate, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon, and cloves in a blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth and the honey is dissolved. Add the crushed tea ice cubes and blend until smooth.

Chef Suggestions
Drained mandarin oranges work well in place of the orange segments if you are in a hurry, or if you are craving this smoothie in the middle of summer when oranges are not in season.