Welcome and hope you enjoy my first post!
On a hot day, nothing beats a nice refreshing drink. Of course you do want to make sure you get your regular intake of daily water. But for those of you who have been buying the bottle ice teas thinking you will benefit from their antioxidants, think again: most are loaded with sugar which spike your insulin level and dehydrates your body on top of promoting weight gain!
Try this DIY version which you can do in the morning when the heat has not reached its peak. By the afternoon, your tea will be nice and cool.
This recipe uses brewed green tea with mint which is a digestive stimulant. It also contains raw honey which is contains iron, B2, B6 and manganese as well as being an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. It is also sweeter than sugar so less is needed to sooth your sweet tooth. You can also use agave syrup which has a lower glycemic index.
- 1 cup of water
- 2 teaspoon of gunpowder green tea
- 3 cups of cold water
- Honey or agave syrup to taste
- Fresh mint to taste (or dried version)
- Bring the 1 cup of water and mint to a boil and let sit for 4 mins off the heat or until the water temperature hits 80 degrees -remember that green tea has to be steeped at lower temperatures otherwise you will burn the leaves and get a bitter taste. We also suggest that you rinse the gunpowder tea leaves prior to steeping it to remove some of its bitter taste and residues.
- Add the tea leaves (you can use a mesh ball or strainer to facilitate the removing of the leaves once they expand) and let it infuse for 2-3 minutes.
- Take the leaves out and let the tea cool down before adding honey. Remember you will add more water and therefore you can make it a bit sweeter as the taste will balance out thereafter.
- Add the 3 remaining cups of water and put it in a pitcher
- You can refrigerate it for 2-3 hours.
VARIATIONS: Herbal teas, black and oolong teas can be a good option.
For those of you who enjoy punches, try hibiscus flower herbal teas which will have an acidic taste and beautiful magenta color.
Adding lemon or limes as well as other herbs such as lemon verbena can further flavor your tea AND provide additional health properties. Ginger for example is great for upset stomach and digestion.
Enjoy!
