Saturday, April 8, 2017

Search Online For Great Tea Recipes

By Ann Edwards


An online search is a great way to find out almost anything. When you're looking for tea recipes, this resource can open up the whole world of regional specialties. From the sweet tea that is a southern legend to frozen desserts or fish sauce, you will find both the familiar and the exotic.

Sweet iced tea has become so popular you can now get it in restaurants and fast food outlets. This takes more than simply adding sugar right before you drink. Some people make a sugar syrup and use that to flavor a pitcher, while others add sugar to hot, steeped tea and let the flavors combine before diluting it for drinking.

Variations to the national drink of Dixie include adding mint sprigs, 12 to a full pitcher. You might want to try adding a half-cup of lemon juice and a cup of orange juice to the pitcher; serve over ice for a refreshing summer treat. Garnish the glasses with a slice of orange or lemon to make your table inviting. For a different experience, serve chai, which is spiced tea, over ice or make a warm, tea-based smoothie with your favorite nut milk and fruit.

Teas of one kind or another have been drunk for centuries, and each region may have its particular favorite. Chai, which is an Indian word that simply means tea, is known in America as a spiced beverage made from black tea flavored with cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Other spices can be added to create special flavors of this 'masala' or spiced beverage. Experiment and come up with your own signature specialty.

Another ancient drink is kombucha, or the divine tea mushroom. This is a cultured drink made from black or green teas and sugar. The culture is added and the whole allowed to ferment for a week or so. The result is a brew with a pleasing sweet taste that is rich in probiotics and believed to be very healthy. It is good alone or with food. Online sites tell how to get the starter culture and make plain or flavored brews. This drink is now sold commercially; look for it in the refrigerated natural foods section of your grocery store.

Teas are used to flavor muffins, scones, and doughnuts. You can use them in main dishes or in frozen desserts. One good trick is to use an herbal variety, like apple cinnamon, instead of water when making oatmeal. You'll find tips for making jelly or for exotic things like infused eggs, a popular item in Chinese cities where they are sold by street vendors.

Black and green tea is from the camillia plant, which originated in China. Today this plant is grown all over the world, even in England and the United States. Herbal 'teas' have been used for centuries as pleasant and healing drinks and now make up a large part of the billion dollar health food industry.

There are many tips online from hostesses and from companies that market teas from all over the world. Don't forget traditional sun tea, which many think has a smoother flavor than the brewed kind. All you need is a large covered jar, four or five tea bags, and a sunny spot outdoors. By nightfall, it's ready to pour over ice or stash in the refrigerator for future need. Think of the energy you save, using solar power to extract the goodness from tea leaves and sunshine.




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