Tea

A lovely change of pace from café au lait, cappuccino, or hot chocolate, and lower in fat and calories, too.

Here's a warming drink for a chilly day.

In Austria this is called Krambambuli.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

This German drink, called Grossmutters Punsch (Grandmother's Punch), is usually enjoyed warm at midnight on Christmas Eve. It can also be served as a refreshing chilled drink. For a festive touch, add a cinnamon stick to each glass.

This chai recipe—inspired by versions in India—combines black tea, spices, and milk. The savory notes from black pepper and cardamom in this version give it a wonderful aromatic complexity.

Nahm Takrai This lightly sweetened drink, served with both lunch and dinner in Thailand, is very cooling with spicy foods.

This bread gets even better if stored for a day. Enjoy it toasted and buttered for breakfast.

The tea adds an elegant complexity to the sauce for the pears, dried apricots, and cherries. Using dried tart cherries instead of Bing cherries helps balance the sweetness.