When the summer heat’s getting to you, there’s nothing more refreshing than a cool glass of iced tea. Instead of reaching for a plastic bottle (which has lots of sugars), try your hand at concocting your own homemade brew. You’ll find that not only is your thirst quenched, but you’ll feel more refreshed too! Some of the ingredients may have medicinal effects, so check out the research and draw your own conclusions.
Ginger and Honey Green Iced Tea
4 Cups water
5 Green Tea Bags
It’s a good rule of thumb to equate one tea bag per cup, or 1.5 tea spoons of loose leaf per cup.
1 teaspoon grated ginger
2 teaspoons honey, or to taste
A tea that will make you feel as good as it tastes!
1) Boil ginger on stove in two cups of water. Reduce to a simmer and add in honey.
2) Poor over tea bags in pitcher and let sit for five minutes. Green tea has a lower steeping temperature than darker teas and should not be boiled.
3) Add additional water and let it let cool. Chill in fridge.
If you’re like me, you might enjoy the grated ginger in your beverage, otherwise you can strain it in a sieve.
Hibiscus Cinnamon Cold Brew
2 qts water
½ cup dried hibiscus flowers
2 cinnamon sticks
½ Orange
4 teaspoons honey, or to taste
A spicy fruity tea with a bright red, beautiful color.
1) Cold brew is a great method that keeps your tea from tasting acidic. Mix your water and hibiscus flowers in a pitcher and keep in fridge overnight.
2) Boil cinnamon sticks, squeezed orange (including rind and pulp), and honey in one cup of water for five minutes, mix thoroughly.
3) Strain flowers from your pitcher and add in cinnamon honey mixture. Mix and chill.
Triple Berry Blast
4 Cups Water
4 Black Tea Bags
2 Teaspoons honey, or to taste
4 teaspoons dried blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries
A terrific blend to energize and freshen you up.
1) Combine tea bags and dried fruit in a pot. You can keep your dried fruit together either in empty tea satchels or tied off cheese cloth.
2) Bring water to boil. Turn off heat and let sit until cool.
3) Either serve with ice or store in fridge in a pitcher.
