Woodland Cider (from Ashes)

​Warm, cozy, and comforting, this is the perfect drink for cold fall or winter days. Or, you know, if you happen to be hanging out with some centaurs...

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Ingredients
2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups hot water
2-3 vanilla tea bags (or whatever tea you prefer- fruit teas for a brighter flavor, spiced teas for something more holiday-ish, herbal teas for a more woodsy feel, etc.)
1-2 tsp. honey
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Ground nutmeg & ginger to taste

Directions
Add all ingredients to a crockpot. Remove tea bags after 5 minutes. Keep the crockpot on low heat for however long you want.
Serve warm. If storing, wait until the drink cools and then store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
The Inspiration
​Mugs carved from wood were filled to the brim with a smooth, mildly sweet drink that warmed them from the inside out. As they ate, the centaurs told stories that Ember had never heard before- beautiful stories about centaurs in the past. And all around her the atmosphere was full of laughter and warmth and a strange sort of energy that seemed to crackle from person to person.