My absolute favorite thing about summer is ice tea. I really enjoy the huge variety of teas that can be iced and enjoyed at most any occasion. I also like experimenting with my own blends. For example, I mix hibiscus with a Ceylon tea from the St. James estate. This gives the tea a really nice tart flavor that is very refreshing on a hot, humid summer day. Squeeze a fresh orange into the St. James Ceylon tea and a few orange slices for a sweet, fruity treat that is sure to please everyone. Almost any kind of fruit or herb such as lemon balm can be added to this tea for a summer quenching beverage.
The kids are wild about the herbal teas I make and freeze into popsicles. Their all time favorite is Lady Hannah’s Whole Fruit. On especially hot and humid days I make Lemon Mango popsicles. I like that they are naturally sweet, sugar free and loaded with vitamin C. They are always a hit, so I make plenty for the neighborhood kids who always seem to be at the door all hot and sweaty from playing.
Many green teas are really good iced as well. I make sencha cherry rose tea for my summer garden parties and add ice cubes with frozen rose petals for an elegant touch. Red and pink rose petals work the best, since their colors show up better than the yellow or white roses. Make sure that they are from your own garden or are purchased pesticide free.
I have not had very much luck making ice tea from white tea. They are very light in flavor and the taste seems to go away as soon as the tea is chilled. I am still looking for one that is strong enough to with stand the hot to ice process and still have some taste. Since white teas are picked so early in the spring, I am not sure that this will be possible, but will keep trying.
