Jagertee

Ingredients

Tea

• 4black tea bags, or 4 tsp strong black tea
• 750 mlwater

Spirit

• 200 mlInländerrum, or another overproof rum

To sweeten and spice

• 3 tbspgranulated sugar, or honey
• 2cinnamon sticks
• 4cloves
• 1orange, sliced
• 1lemon, sliced

Sometimes added

• a splash of red wine
• a strip of orange peel per mug

Directions

1. Bring the water to the boil and take it off the heat. Add the tea and let it brew for five full minutes. It should be much stronger than tea you would drink on its own.
2. Strain the tea into a saucepan and discard the leaves or bags. Now the spicing, which is done in the hot tea. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves completely. Add the cinnamon sticks and the cloves. Add half the orange and lemon slices.
3. Set the pan over a low heat and warm it for five minutes. Do not let it boil, since boiling makes the tea bitter. Taste it and add more sugar if you want, since it should be noticeably sweet.
4. Take the pan off the heat entirely before adding the alcohol. Never add it over a gas flame or into a pan that is still on the burner.
5. Pour in the rum and stir it through once. Do not return the pan to the heat, since the liquid is already hot enough. Rinse the mugs with hot water and empty them. Cold ceramic can crack and will also cool the drink at once.
6. Strain the drink into the mugs, holding back the spices. Drop a fresh slice of orange or lemon into each mug. Add a strip of orange peel if you want more aroma.
7. Serve it steaming hot, which is the whole appeal. It is drunk slowly, in the warm, after coming in from the cold.

Technique

• Inländerrum is often eighty per cent alcohol, and the heat and sugar disguise it completely.
• Add the rum off the heat, since overproof spirit gives off flammable vapour.
• Brew the tea much stronger than you would drink it alone.

Substitutions

• Any dark overproof rum in place of Inländerrum.
• Honey in place of sugar, which many huts use.

Variations

• With a splash of red wine added.
• With plum brandy in place of some of the rum.
• Topped with whipped cream, which some huts serve.

History

An Austrian ski-hut drink; the name Jagertee is legally reserved to Austria within the European Union.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jagertee?

Jagertee is a cocktail from Austria: hot black tea with overproof rum, spices and sugar. An Austrian ski-hut drink; the name Jagertee is legally reserved to Austria within the European Union.

How long does Jagertee take to make?

Jagertee takes 5 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking. The recipe makes 4 mugs. It is rated easy to make.

What can I substitute in Jagertee?

Yes, within limits. Any dark overproof rum in place of Inländerrum. Honey in place of sugar, which many huts use.

What is the most important thing to get right in Jagertee?

Set the pan over a low heat and warm it for five minutes. Do not let it boil, since boiling makes the tea bitter. Taste it and add more sugar if you want, since it should be noticeably sweet.