Although I enjoy drinking hot beverages at all times of the year, now that the heat is starting, a refreshing drink is definitely appealing, especially when you are in a garden, pool or at the beach.
I haven't had a soft drink in years (maybe decades), I never crave them anymore, but I know they are very convenient and refreshing.
Today I'm bringing you a super easy, much more natural and economical alternative: iced tea. But not the pre-made kind—which is usually full of sugar—but homemade.
The recipe—if you can call it that—is very easy:
1- Boil water
2- Make the infusion you like best.
3- Let it cool and add ice.
But this, which is so easy, is hardly satisfying. However, with these simple ideas I'm giving you, you'll be able to make delicious iced tea, and you won't be tempted to drink a packaged one.
1. Brew a large batch of tea before you feel like drinking it, to allow enough time for it to become quite strong and cool down sufficiently. For example, brew it in the morning while you're making breakfast, or in the evening while you're cleaning the kitchen. Store the brewed tea in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, so you have it on hand whenever you want some. (You can do this with coffee too.)
2- Although black tea is traditionally used for iced tea, you can use other varieties: green tea, orange infusions, or mint infusions are some options. Digestive infusions are best enjoyed hot, as intense cold can affect digestion. Here are all the filtered infusions we have in our shop—though you can also use loose leaves.
3- Add fresh herbs and fruit for a special flavor and a touch of luxury. I love adding a slice of lemon and two mint leaves, along with plenty of ice, to my black tea once I've poured it into my favorite glass—you know I love Mason jars. Other ideas: green tea with mint, rooibos with raspberries, or ginger infusion with lemon and freshly chopped ginger.
4- If you don't like your tea to be watered down, make sure your concentrate is quite strong, or prepare tea ice cubes so that as they melt, more tea remains in your glass. If you want to impress guests, add a slice of lemon, raspberries, blueberries, or mint leaves to the ice cube trays before putting them in the freezer. They look spectacular and add a subtle touch of flavor.
5- I prefer not to sweeten my teas, but if you like a touch of sweetness, you can add a little coconut sugar while the tea is still hot so it dissolves more easily, or honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. You can also muddle strawberries or other seasonal fruit at the bottom of your cup to add that sweet flavor you crave.
Here's the recipe for Agua de Jamaica, or hibiscus iced tea, which I drank all last summer.
What's your favorite iced tea?