This festive CRANBERRY DRINK has many merits! It is unusual in that the cranberries and oranges are not cooked or heated in any way; the nutrient levels are maintained better when a food is not heated. It has peppermint tea which aids digestion. It is not high in sugar since stevia is used to sweeten and the natural fruit sugar in the orange juice is diluted by the tea and cranberry juice. Many people do not realize that cranberries are very sour alone so that products made with them (besides being heated) are very high in added sugar. This drink is a refreshingly low-sugar way to enjoy the health benefits of cranberries. One other benefit—being a fluid it contributes to your 8 or so cups of recommended fluids a day.
RAW CRANBERRY ORANGE DRINK
1 12 oz. Bag fresh cranberries, organic is best
8 organic juicing oranges
3 peppermint tea bags
2-3 cups water
stevia extract to taste
This beverage can be made with a blender or a vegetable juicer. It is also helpful to have a citrus juicer.
Boil the water and pour into a glass quart jar or a teapot and add 3 peppermint tea bags or 3 Tbsp. of the dried herb. Let steep until cooled to room temperature.
Wash cranberries and drain. If you are using a vegetable juicer, put them through a vegetable juicer and set aside the juice. If using a blender place the cranberries into a blender. Add the tea to the blender and blend very well. Strain mixture through a strainer into a glass bowl and press pulp with a spoon until most of juice is removed. Discard pulp or put it into homemade cranberry sauce.
Juice oranges. Mix orange juice, cranberry juice, and tea if you used a vegetable juicer to extract the cranberry juice, in a pitcher. Add stevia to sweeten to taste. Enjoy!
