Hunter's Tea (Austrian Jagatee or Jägertee)

One of the popular après-ski drinks, this concoction will not fail to warm you on the slopes or at home. Jägertee means Hunter’s tea and Jaga is the local Tyrolean word for Jäger in German. In all likelihood Hunter’s used to have a Jagatee before going out into the windy and cold wild and taking down some forest animals. Although Jägertee is easily made at home, ready-made mixtures containing the sugar and spices are sold in shops. The Austrian "Strohrum" is often used for making it and the brand also produces its own ready-made variety. Though, we think making Jägertee from scratch (and sampling it along the way) is half the fun.

1 cup red wine
1 cup tea
1 cup spiced rum
1 cup plum brandy, Schnapps or any other liqueur to hand
1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
2-3 whole cloves
¼ stick cinnamon
2 slices lemon
sugar

Heat the tea, wine, rum, brandy, orange juice, spices and lemons in a pot. Let it come to a gentle simmer for around 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Add a little sugar to taste.

Makes 4 servings.