Rooibos, or redbush, tea originates from South Africa, but has gained vast popularity worldwide. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, so when made into iced tea, it is a wonderfully refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at any time of day. Load it up with ice cubes, slices of strawberry, and sprigs of mint for a cool drink that not only tastes great, but looks beautiful too.
This recipe is so easy to make that you’ll never opt for shop-bought iced tea again. All you need to do to make iced tea is to fill up a jug with cold water, tea bags, sugar, and lemon juice. If you can resist it, leave it in the fridge for at least an hour to fully infuse. Rooibos has a delicate flavour, and infusing it in cold water helps to preserve this. If you fancy a more grown up treat, the iced tea is a perfect mixer for sparkling wine or a splash of gin for a fresh summer cocktail. Make up a large batch and store it in a jug in the fridge – it is a perfect crowd pleaser if you want something a little different to accompany a barbecue with friends and neighbours.
HOW TO MAKE ICED TEA
Ingredients
- 4 rooibos tea bags
- 75g sugar
- juice of 1 lemon
- strawberries and fresh mint, to serve
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Method
- Put the tea bags, sugar and lemon juice into a large jug and pour over 1 litre cold water. Leave to infuse for about an hour, giving it the odd stir. Using cold water preserves the tea's delicate flavour.
- Leave in the fridge to get really cold. To serve, add ice and slices of strawberry and sprigs of mint.
