Icon - Arrow LeftAn icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. Icon - Arrow RightAn icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Icon - External LinkAn icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - MessageThe icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - Down ChevronUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - CloseUsed to indicate a close action. Icon - Dropdown ArrowUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Location PinUsed to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Zoom OutUsed to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Zoom InUsed to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - SearchUsed to indicate a search action. Icon - EmailUsed to indicate an emai action. Icon - FacebookFacebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - InstagramInstagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - PinterestPinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - TwitterTwitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Check MarkA check mark for checkbox buttons.
You are reading

Iced Tea, No Sugar Required

Search

Iced Tea, No Sugar Required

July 30, 2013

Over lunch last week at the very wonderful Honey & Co. in London’s Fitzrovia with Julie and Christine, we cooled off with glasses of orange-blossom iced tea. Very sweet, no ice. And delicious, but like a cocktail at noon, there are just so many of these that you can drink before feeling “unusual.”

It got us to talking about iced-tea recipes and Julie asked me to share the version I always make. On really hot days like the ones we’ve been experiencing, my first thoughts in the morning turn toward this tea. The absence of sweetener and caffeine makes my blend all the more quaffable. It works like an icy slow drip throughout the day. 

Photographs by Jim Powell.

ice  20  tea  20  tea  20  bags new  20  crop 0

Above: Start the morning with a three-teabag infusion, each a different variety of tea. My vital ingredient is red bush tea (also known as rooibos). Made from the leaves of a South African herb, Aspalthus linearis, it‘s decaf and isn’t even related to traditional tea, but serves as a great substitute with a subtly sweet taste and less than half the tannin of regular tea. And unlike wan fruit tea, it still has a kick to it, essential when avoiding caffeine. African red bush tea can be found of late in most supermarkets; Tazo and Celestial Seasonings both offer versions. 

With red bush as a base note, add another strong flavor, such as rose hips tea, for a rosy drink, or ginger tea, which is what I used here.

The third bag can be as flowery or fruity as you like. I chose green tea with cranberry.

Fill a two-quart heavy glass pitcher to about a third with boiling water to make a strong infusion. (You can also use a teapot, of course, but I skip that step by using a pitcher that can stand up to hot water.)

ice  20  tea  20  limes sized

Above: After steeping for long enough to let the liquid cool down (say 20 minutes), fill up the jug with cold water and stir. Then add citrus slices–lemons are fine but limes give more depth. If you are craving some natural sweetness, sliced orange or clementine make a good addition. 

ice  20  tea  20  jug  20  new  20  crop 0

Above: The inclusion of mint is a must, especially if it is dominating the herb bed by the back door. Mint loves a morning trim.

ice  20  tea  20  glass of

Above: I like ice as much as the next person but feel that the quantities added to drinks in the US waste valuable space in a glass. Like the people at Honey & Co., I prefer my summer tea to be “iced” not “ice.” It may be all in the spelling.

For a floral variation on iced tea, see Summer Goddess Sun Tea with Chamomile Syrup.

(Visited 218 times, 1 visits today)
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.

Product summary  

Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Join the conversation

v5.0