Today is going to be very hot here on the prairie and I'm facing many hours of grouting tile so I've decided to brew up some Caribbean iced tea. This will help me get through the day.
The Farmer and I spent a fabulous week on St. Croix this spring. We always try to find the spots where the locals eat. The lovely lady who worked at the gift shop at the resort suggested a place on one of the side streets in Christiansted. It was a very cool, non-touristy spot and it was just perfect.
We ordered iced tea with our meal and when I took my first sip I knew it was something special. After much pleading and arm twisting on my part the owner gave me the recipe. He made me promise not to tell his mom because she'd be angry that he gave the secret away,
CARIBBEAN SWEET TEA
Tea bags
hot water
dark brown sugar
1 small piece of cinnamon stick
fresh lime
Gather your ingredients. The owner assured me that he simply used Lipton's tea. No need for any fancy brands.
Boil 2 cups of water for each tea bag.
Remove the water from the heat and put the tea bags and cinnamon stick in the hot water. Cover and let stand for 20 min.
Add 1-1/2 TBSP. dark brown sugar for each cup of water used. Taste. Add more brown sugar to obtain desired sweetness. Stir until sugar dissolves completely. Let cool.
Serve with a large wedge of fresh lime.
There were some lovely young women working the concierge desk at our resort. They had a big laugh when I mentioned the secret iced tea recipe. It seems that everyone made their tea this way and it was not a big family secret after all.
NOTE: Brown sugar is simply white sugar with molasses added. This molasses gives the iced tea a very rich taste. All I had on hand for picture taking was light brown sugar, but the dark brown works best.
Have a great day everyone!
16 comments:
As an iced-tea lover, I am going to have to try this soon! We actually drink iced-tea everyday year 'round! This sounds so yummy! And your beautiful photos have me CRAVING it now! LOL!
I'm going to try it today, too. It sounds wonderful. Does this mean that I must actually buy some limes? ;D
Will be thinking of you with all that grouting to do...on your knees? Oh my, Suzanne, you're a better woman than I!
I'm going to try this Suzanne - I make iced tea every day. Are you using family sized tea bags or the small ones? Blessings, marlene
Oooo, yum!
xoxo,
Mary
Oh, hot dang - I am making some of this tomorrow!
This will be made this weekend !!
I've become addicted to iced tea, especially iced sun tea. There is usually a jar of it in the fridge!
I so enjoyed your story from yesterday! I almost felt like I was sliding in that car, too (and having a similar experience makes it even more meaningful).
Your tea recipe sounds delish---especially since we came home to NO A/C yesterday afternoon! This morning we found out our service "peep" had a heart attack a week ago (he'll be fine, thankfully, just can't work for a month!). I'm leaving town today, but I think I might have to brew up some of your tea mixture and have it for my husband as he tries to stay cool and locate another "peep". Happy grouting.
Mmmmm...that's going to hit the spot! Thanks!
yum...never thought to use limes in my tea (I tend to horde them for my G&T's! or just the T with a twist of lime)
Thanks for sharing a refreshing recipe just in time to beat the forecasted heat.
Mmmmmm, refreshing.
Lime and brown sugar, whoda thunk.
I'm a sweet-n-low lemon kid of girl myself, but hey, I'm open to new things.
Mmmmmm, and good luck on that grouting. And you thought laying the tile down was tough!
We Canadians always find it so funny that we have to be specific and request 'hot' tea if we want tea, because if you don't you will get 'ice' tea. I think 'we' are the only people on the planet that don't 'get' this...of course we have many strange things too ay?
Well how about that, I bet his Mom told him it was a big family secret. lol; It sounds real yummy. I think I will surprise Honey Bunny and make it for him tomorrow. Thanks for sharing the big secret. Have a great weekend.
Hugs;
Alaura
Now that sounds like a real cool drink. I mean that literally! I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing. Your trip sounds delicious.
Jeanne
I use rooibos(I'm told you can find Rooisbos all over the world)and honey and lemon. We live on it during the hot months which works out to about 8 month of the year.
Suzanne - I'm finally getting around to my reader - I hope all is well with you!
I love this recipe. I'm bookmarking it so I can read it later and make it for my husband who is an iced tea fanatic!
I look forward to catching up on you soon. Take care!
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