Do you know how there are dog people and cat people? There is a similar division between the coffee people and the tea people.
I am definitely one of the tea people.
A new Ding Tea just opened in Mckinney Towne Crossing. I have been back twice for their Ginger Longan Tea. It’s so good.
Having a new place to get my tea fix has been a taste of normalcy since the shutdown. My friend likes to refer to the shutdown as the ‘before times‘. That seems very appropriate for how prehistoric this has all felt. The effects of the pandemic have ranged from overwhelming to trivial. And now that we have passed the one-year mark, I think we are all reflecting and taking stock of those effects, in big and small ways.
Don’t let this pandemic take away your moments of enjoyment. Whether coffee or tea, you can learn how to make delicious drinks at home. And if you need to buy a fancy cup or mug to make it feel official, then do it! If we have learned anything during this time, it is the value of Amazon.
As a tea drinker, I love trying different teas at home. Tea can be as easy as grabbing a bag and some hot water. There are also recipes for tea beverages that can elevate your tea experience. On a day when I need to find therapy in a cup, these tea recipes are perfect.
One of my favorites is my version of a Starbucks drink known as the medicine ball. One dear friend was drinking one when he was feeling a little under the weather. I bought one and loved it. He told me the ingredients and I decided to try making it at home. I make it at least once a week if I can hide the ingredients from my daughter, who’s also a tea drinker!
The key to making the medicine ball taste amazing is that you substitute lemonade for water. The rest is simple.
Medicine Ball Tea
INGREDIENTS (makes little more than a single serving)
- 1-2 cups of lemonade (What’s your favorite?)
- 1 bag of peach-flavored tea
- 1-2 bags of peppermint tea*
*You can use only 1 bag of peppermint tea and add peppermint extract or essential oil if you love the pepperminty aroma as much as I do.
Boil the lemonade. Get your favorite teacup or mug. Pour lemonade into the cup. Steep the tea bags in the hot lemonade for 7 to 10 minutes. Remove bags. Add an extra drop of peppermint and enjoy!
My next favorite tea recipe is just as delicious as the first; it’s also just as easy. The major difference is how gorgeous it is to look at. If you have never seen Hibiscus tea you should absolutely make this at least once so you can see it for yourself. It is a rich, dark pink color. So if you need a pretty drink for your event for the spring or summer, guess what? You can turn this recipe into an iced version and you have a beautiful splash of color for your table.
Spring Hibiscus Tea
INGREDIENTS
- 40-48 oz. water
- 1 heaping tablespoon of Hibiscus tea (I like getting loose-leaf Hibiscus instead of bags)
- 1 bag of peppermint tea
- Lemon (lemonade can be used for a little extra sweetness)
Boil water. Place leaves in hot water and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Add one bag of peppermint tea. Pour into cup and add a teaspoon of lemon or a splash of lemonade to you liking.
Hibiscus does not just look and taste good. It has a ton of health benefits, including reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, and even helping with menstrual cramps.
Iced tea, although a Texas favorite, can get a little boring. You can take both of these recipes and make them into iced tea versions that will add to your afternoon lunch table or barbecue. The Hibiscus tea recipe is perfect for a baby or bridal shower table because of its beautiful color alone.
Iced Hibiscus Tea
Take the above recipe and triple the water, double the leaves. Use five peppermint tea bags and then add lemon slices or lime slices to your pitcher. You can even add a Hibiscus flower to each glass or the pitcher. Make it fancy by adding peppermint leaves to your ice cubes. You have a perfect summer beverage that not only tastes good but looks GORGEOUS.
Now what to do with those tea bags? Keep them. They make the perfect compress for the sensitive area around your eyes. Gather them put them in a Tupperware or a baggie, place them in the fridge, and voila: you can have a little spa treatment at home. You just can’t get that with coffee. So grab your bags ladies, and drink up!
