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.
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.
