August is ‘Peak Summer,’ right?
The weather is reliably warm, my garden is exploding with fresh produce. I can’t keep up with how many gorgeous tomatoes ripen on my vines every day. It’s an excellent problem to have. Aside from bottomless Caprese salads, I am filling my freezer with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes to make MY FAVOURITE SOUP OF ALL TIME year-round.
And it’s not just my own garden that is overflowing with abundance. In Vancouver, blackberries grow wild down just about every lane, in every park- everywhere! My daughter and I go for a walks during the day and collect as many of the juicy fruits as we can carry (shoving an equal amount directly into our mouths, of course).
In these dog days of summer, it’s equally important to have something good to sip on, right? While I have been trying to drink more water, I do find it difficult. I’m just not a water-drinkin’ kinda gal. It’s a challenge.
So, in an effort not to do my usual “coffee/tea all day, wine all night, die of dehydration” I have really been getting into decaffeinated teas- especially fruit infusions, which pack a punch during these hot days, make excellent iced teas and give you the electrolytes you need not to, you know, die of dehydration.
Low calorie, big flavour, totally delicious and exceedingly refreshing, especially if you make it into a SLUSHIE. YEAH.
I used For Tea’s Sake’s “Mango Tango” for this since it’s basically summer in tea form, but any bold fruit tea will work (even green tea, if you don’t mind a touch of caffeine- they make a wickedly tasty Sour Apple Martini Green Tea too).
If you like your iced tea on the sweeter side, add a drizzle of maple syrup, simple syrup or honey. Or, and I know we’re all about hydration here but also *patio season*- a splash of vodka makes this an impressive looking (and tasting) cocktail. Just sayin’…
| Tea Slushies | | Print |
- 3 Tbsp For Tea's Sake 'Mango Tango' or other fruit-based loose tea
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 cups ice
- 1 lemon, juice
- 4 oz. vodka (optional)
- 1 tsp maple syrup (optional)
- Steep 3 tablespoons of tea in boiling water for 10 minutes- this will be a powerful infusion but we are also diluting it with ice.
- Strain tea and add sweetener, if using. Pour tea into blender. Add the juice of one lemon and vodka, if using, along with 3 cups of ice. Blend on high until a uniform slush forms.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh berries and/or a sprig of mint.
To browse or purchase some loose tea, visit For Tea’s Sake’s website at www.forteassake.com
My house has planted it and through this article I have created this wonderful drink, adding a little decoration around the cup, it is also very attractive, it’s great because being right in my own house. I can also make a shop-like drink too, thank you for sharing this recipe.