Preheat the oven to 200°C (top and bottom heat). Wash the pumpkin, cut it in half, and scoop out the seeds and fibrous center with a spoon. If you are using Hokkaido pumpkin, you can keep the skin — it is edible; for butternut squash, peel it with a knife.
Description
Aromatic, creamy tea with pumpkin and spiced spices — the perfect drink for Halloween and chilly autumn evenings. This drink combines Polish, seasonal pumpkin with strong black tea and cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Once baked, the pumpkin gives the drink natural sweetness and a deep orange color, the tea adds tannins and structure, while the spices bring a warming character with a slight spicy finish. Serve fresh, with a dollop of whipped cream or a bit of honey; you can also add a splash of rum for adults. It looks impressive in clear cups — the orange color with creamy foam and a cinnamon stick creates an atmosphere perfect for a Halloween party or an evening by the fireplace.
Ingredients Used
Ingredients (12)
- Pumpkin 400 g
- Water 1000 ml
- Black tea 8 g
- Rapeseed oil 15 g
- 🌿 Spices
- Cinnamon 2 g
- Ginger 2 g
- Nutmeg 2 pinch (~1 g)
- Cloves 1 g
- Salt 1 g
- ✨ Optional
- Honey 60 ml
- 30% cream 100 ml
- Lemon 1.3 pcs (~100 g)
💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used
Preparation steps
Preparing the pumpkin
Cut the pumpkin flesh into cubes about 2-3 cm. Transfer the pieces to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, drizzle with canola oil, and gently salt. Spread them out evenly so that the pieces are in a single layer and bake for 25–30 minutes until the edges are slightly golden and the center is soft when pierced with a knife.
Cooking tea and spices
In a large pot with a capacity of at least 2 l, pour in 1000 ml of water and add the roasted pumpkin. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Add black tea (in a tea infuser or cheesecloth), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 8–10 minutes to allow the spices to release their aroma.
Blending and seasoning
After 8–10 minutes of cooking, turn off the heat. Remove the tea infuser and pour the contents of the pot into a blending container (this can be a tall jug for an immersion blender or a pitcher for a standing blender). Blend until smooth and creamy — if you want a very smooth consistency, strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
Try the pumpkin tea and season to taste: add 60 g of honey if you want a sweeter drink (add gradually, stirring) and season with a pinch of salt to enhance the aroma. If the drink is too thick, return it to the pot and add 50–100 ml of water, heating it to steaming but not boiling.
Serving
Pour the hot pumpkin tea into four mugs. For each serving, add a tablespoon of chilled 30% cream — you can lightly whip it with a whisk to create a dollop. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lemon zest and optionally a cinnamon stick as a stirrer.
Additional options
If the drink is to be an adult version, add 10–20 ml of dark rum to each serving just before serving. For the vegan version, replace the cream with plant-based milk (e.g., creamy oat milk) and use maple syrup instead of honey.
Fun Fact
Pumpkin has been used in Central European cuisine for centuries, but it wasn't until the 19th century that it began to be widely used in sweet desserts and drinks. The combination of pumpkin with tea is a modern variation on traditional spiced autumn brews.
Best for
Tips
Serve hot tea in transparent glasses, decorated with a dollop of cream and a cinnamon stick. Crunchy ginger cookies, roasted pumpkin seeds, or a piece of pumpkin cheesecake pair well with the drink. For guests, prepare a vegan version and an alcoholic version alongside the basic one.
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. To reheat, transfer to a pot and heat over low heat — do not allow to boil vigorously. If the drink thickens, add a small amount of water or milk while reheating.
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