Recipe: Blackberry iced tea with cinnamon and ginger

Dietitian's tip: Herbal tea isn't made from tea leaves. Instead, herbs, flowers or spices are steeped in water. Most herbal teas are caffeine-free.

Low sodium = no more than 140 mg of sodium per serving

Low fat = no more than 3 g of fat per serving

SERVES 6

Ingredients

6 cups water
12 blackberry herbal tea bags
8 3-inch-long cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice
Sugar substitute, to taste
Ice cubes, crushed

Directions

In a large saucepan, heat water to just before boiling. Add tea bags, 2 of the cinnamon sticks and ginger. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for about 15 minutes.

Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, placed over a pitcher. Add the juice and sweetener to taste. Refrigerate until very cold.

To serve, fill 6 tall, chilled glasses with crushed ice. Pour the tea over the top of the ice and garnish with cinnamon sticks. Serve immediately.