Seasonal spiced apple juice

Spiced apple juice à la Matthew

simmer for 30 minutes in a large saucepan:
apple juice, 2 litres

add while warming:

1 cinnamon stick, roughly crumbled

1 vanilla stick, cut in half

1 knob fresh ginger, sliced

about 20 allspice fruits

3 or 4 star anise fruits

[optional] handful of epimedium leaves

towards end: juice of two oranges

strain through a metal sieve and serve warm

The vanilla makes it smooth on the tongue, the orange brings the various tastes together, the star anise gives the undertone of aniseed, the ginger adds fire, the cinnamon is the inevitable true companion of apple. Wow!

Tamarind or liquorice would be interesting alternatives!