Even though the summer isn’t really that warm until now here in the Netherlands, its still too warm for me to drink my normal morning tea. So I came up with these refreshing icetea x 2 to drink instead. I prepare a new batch every second day and can zip al day long.
For the icetea I bought dried hibiscus flowers in my spice shop. The leafs dosen’t look too spectacular when dry but as soon as you add boiling water the most beautiful, red color is developing.
The taste is sour. If you leave it too long, it can even be so sour that you can’t drink it. About 10 minutes gives a perfect taste to it. I combine it with fresh mint, a few drips of agave and lime. it may sound strange to add lime to an already sour drink but somehow it creates a balance in the taste.
The other icetea that I prepared is made from an idea I had when tasting a Moroccan tea at a book presentation a month ago. That tea was very sweet but with a interesting combination of jasmin, rosewater and cardamom. I was immediately eager to try to find my own version of it!
To make this tea I got dried jasmin flowers from the shop. If you can’t manage to find it, it probably also work with already prepared teabags containing green tea and jasmin that you can find everywhere in the supermarkets. Just make sure that not hidden sugar is hiding is the bags. i know it sounds silly but its not that unusual you know… Just saying.
The tea can best be kept in the refrigerator in a glas jug with a lid. I found this beautiful jug fitting perfectly in my refrigerator at Ikea. It’s from the limited collection Viktigt made by Ingegerd Råman so you have to be fast to get it!
The tea stays good for 2-3 days when kept cold. The best is to add the slices of lime and fresh mint on the actual moment of serving. If not, you risk that they will mold in your tea.
So here we go, two healthy icetea to enjoy a hot summer day. Let’s get to work!
Refreshing hibiscus and mint tea
1 liter
Ingredients
1 liter of boiling water
0,40 oz / 10 gram dried hibiscus flowers
1-2 teaspoons of agave
Garnish
1 lime
3-5 long sprigs of fresh mint
Lots of ice
How do I do it?
1. Set a cattle with water and let the water come to a boil. Meanwhile prepare a jug that can take boiling water. Add the dried hibiscus flowers to it.
2. Once the water is boiling, pour over the flowers. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Strain the tea and make sure all leafs are out, otherwise it gets too sour!
3. Add the agave to the tea and let it cool off completely. Pour the tea over in a jug to keep in the refrigerator.
4. When serving, cut thin slices of lime and add to the tea together with fresh mint and lots of ice.
Because hibiscus tea may increase estrogen and testosterone it shouldn’t be consumed during pregnancy and breast feeding.
Icetea with jasmin flowers and cardamom
1 liter
Ingrediens
1 liter water
10 gram of jasmin flowers
5 grams of cardamom pods
1-2 teaspoons of rosewater
Garnish
3-5 long sprigs of fresh mint
Maybe some extra cardamom pods
Lots of ice cubes
How do I do it?
1. Set a cattle with water and let the water come to a boil. Meanwhile prepare a jug that can take boiling water. Add the dried jasmin flowers to it.
2. Once the water is boiling, pour over the flowers. Add the slightly crushed cardamom pods.
3. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes.Strain the tea and make sure all leafs and pods are out, otherwise it gets too dominant jasmin taste!
4. Let it cool off completely. Add the rosewater and pour the tea over in a jug to keep in the refrigerator.
5. When serving, add fresh mint, maybe some extra cardamom pods for the decoration and lots of ice to the tea.
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