Enjoy a refreshing and healthy drink this hot season. It's almost the end of January that has been generally hot. It is this time that you need to be hydrated well to avoid energy depletion. The best way to stay hydrated without just having to take water is to have iced tea. So what is iced tea? Iced tea is a form of cold tea. Though usually served in a glass with ice, it can refer to a tea that has been chilled or cooled. It may or may not be sweetened. Iced tea is also a popular packaged drink. It can be mixed with flavored syrup, with multiple common flavors including lemon, raspberry, lime, passion fruit, peach, orange, strawberry, and cherry. While most iced teas get their flavor from tea leaves, herbal teas are sometimes served cold and referred to as iced tea. Iced tea is sometimes made by a particularly long steeping of tea leaves at lower temperature. Some people call this "sun tea". In addition, it can be left to stand overnight in the refrigerator. Iced tea is popular in Austria and is commonly known as Eistee (ice tea); it is usually drunk heavily sweetened.In Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most popular beverages is mate or chá mate. In Canada, iced tea refers to sweetened iced tea, flavoured with lemon. The iced tea is usually made at home from drink powder or obtained in bottles or cans. Sweetened green teas and those flavoured with raspberry, peach, or pomegranate are becoming more common via marketing efforts. In china Common types of iced tea are black, green, oolong and lots of herbals as well. Iced herbal teas are especially popular in the hot summers, where "yin" or cooling herbs are used to make tea such as chrysanthemum, kuding tea etc. Cooled tea (but still warm) was popular throughout ancient times. So let's get started on our Watermelon Basil iced Tea
INGREDIENTS
4 Teabags
4 Cups boiling Water
3 Slices Watermelon
1/2 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Water
1/4 Teaspoon Dried Basil
juice of 2 Limes
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the teabags into a jug
Add boiling Water
You can fill the jug or add water 3/4 way
Allow the teabags to steep for five minutes
After five minutes remove the tea bags from the hot water
Place the jug in the refrigerator and allow to chill for 1 hour or more
Meanwhile cut the water melon into small pieces, and add into the blender
Start blending the cut water melon
Blend the watermelon until it liquidises
Strain the watermelon juice into a large cup or bowl. This is the juice of the watermelon you will get after sieving. Set aside
Pour the 1/2 cup water into a glass and add in the honey. Stir the water and honey until it dissolves completely
Add the dried Basil into the honey water syrup and mix well, set aside
Removed the iced tea from the refrigerator and add into it the watermelon juice
Add in the basil, honey syrup into the jug
Squeeze into the iced tea the juice of two limes. You can squeeze directly or pour an already squeezed fresh lime juice
Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are completely mixed
Pour into mocktail glasses and chill
Garnish with watermelon and lime before serving. If you prefer stronger tea you can steep the tea bags in the hot water for 10 minutes. For an added extra cool drink, you can add in ice cubes just before serving. Delicious!
Perfect for the hot Nairobi weather
WATERMELON BASIL ICED TEA
Ingredients
- 4 Tea Bags
- 4 Cups Boiling Water
- 3 Slices Watermelon
- 1/2 Cup Honey
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1/4 Teaspoon Dried Basil
- 2 Lime Juice
Instructions
Place the teabags into a jug. Add boiling Water. Allow the teabags to steep for five minutes. After five minutes remove the tea bags from the hot water. Place the jug in the refrigerator and allow to chill for 1 hour or moreMeanwhile cut the water melon into small pieces, and add into the blender. Blend the watermelon until it liquidizes. Strain the watermelon juice into a large cup or bowlPour the 1/2 cup water into a glass and add in the honey. Stir the water and honey until it dissolves completelyAdd the dried Basil into the honey water syrup and mix well, set asideRemoved the iced tea from the refrigerator and add into it the watermelon juice. Add in the basil, honey syrup into the jug. Squeeze into the iced tea the juice of two limes.Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are completely mixedPour into mock-tail glasses and chill. Garnish with watermelon and lime before servingIf you prefer stronger tea you can steep the tea bags in the hot water for 10 minutes. For an added extra cool drink, you can add in ice cubes just before serving.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 1 Glass