Tea of the Month: July
Hello,
This is the first of my 'Tea of the Month' posts, and a lovely month for it, yet, it may prompt the question: Why would you drink tea in July?
Well, I will give you a double-barreled answer:
1. In India, and other countries where tea is crop and culture, the climate is rather on the warm side, and yet, tea is drunk hot, just as in the countries of Europe, from which the modern world was introduced to tea. In a warm climate drinking hot beverages is actually better for you than drinking cold ones because your body can more easily process it. Your body is warmer on the inside than you think, and if it doesn't have to warm up the fluid before it starts to use it it takes less energy and effort.
2. Who said tea has to be hot?
July: Strawberry Iced Tea
What you will need:
1 pot of tea, steeped and allowed to cool until just warm.
Strawberries, more than you think you will need, you can always eat the extras.
Sugar, to taste.
Mint, if desired.
Starting with the tea, it's pretty easy to pair flavors with strawberry, but remember, you don't want something like Chamomile, it just gets over-powered, and nothing too heady, like Lapsang Souchong. I would choose a Jasmine Green tea variation, or perhaps my favorite, Earl Grey. Any basic green or black tea would really be suitable.
Start with the strawberries, slice them into either quarters or quarter-inch thick slices. Place in the bottom of your serving pitcher, along with the sugar. You may also blend them in a food processor, but make sure not too finely.
Once you have steeped your tea, (four bags of anything except Earl Grey, for that three, plus one standard black bag.) and let it cool until you can hold your finger in it without burning yourself, pour into the pitcher over the strawberries and sugar.
Stir well. If some of the strawberries get smashed this will only add to the flavor.
Move to the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. When ready to serve add ice, proportionally to the size of your pitcher.
Serve with a wedge of strawberry on each glass.
Voilà! Tea, sweet and summery.
This is the first of my 'Tea of the Month' posts, and a lovely month for it, yet, it may prompt the question: Why would you drink tea in July?
Well, I will give you a double-barreled answer:
1. In India, and other countries where tea is crop and culture, the climate is rather on the warm side, and yet, tea is drunk hot, just as in the countries of Europe, from which the modern world was introduced to tea. In a warm climate drinking hot beverages is actually better for you than drinking cold ones because your body can more easily process it. Your body is warmer on the inside than you think, and if it doesn't have to warm up the fluid before it starts to use it it takes less energy and effort.
2. Who said tea has to be hot?
July: Strawberry Iced Tea
What you will need:
1 pot of tea, steeped and allowed to cool until just warm.
Strawberries, more than you think you will need, you can always eat the extras.
Sugar, to taste.
Mint, if desired.
Starting with the tea, it's pretty easy to pair flavors with strawberry, but remember, you don't want something like Chamomile, it just gets over-powered, and nothing too heady, like Lapsang Souchong. I would choose a Jasmine Green tea variation, or perhaps my favorite, Earl Grey. Any basic green or black tea would really be suitable.
Start with the strawberries, slice them into either quarters or quarter-inch thick slices. Place in the bottom of your serving pitcher, along with the sugar. You may also blend them in a food processor, but make sure not too finely.
Once you have steeped your tea, (four bags of anything except Earl Grey, for that three, plus one standard black bag.) and let it cool until you can hold your finger in it without burning yourself, pour into the pitcher over the strawberries and sugar.
Stir well. If some of the strawberries get smashed this will only add to the flavor.
Move to the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. When ready to serve add ice, proportionally to the size of your pitcher.
Serve with a wedge of strawberry on each glass.
Voilà! Tea, sweet and summery.
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