Back where we used to live, there was a lovely bulk tea section at the store with all these marvelous teas. When I moved, I bought a quart jar of each, so even in my new home, I would have the comfort of these lovely teas.
Over the last three years, friends and families have been pack mules: bringing along a bag of this or that on a trip to see us or mailing me a package of my favourite teas.
While I so heartily appreciate them for that, it was high time I figured this out myself.
I tried different teas and could not find one I loved.
Then I had this silly brainwave of like, oh yes, oh right, I could make this myself??
Jasmine from omfoods.com is my favourite green tea, as well as the hibiscus they carry. I bought these freeze-dried raspberries and believe me when I say a little goes a long way! I may try drying raspberries from my garden next summer to see how they work out for this!
When I brewed my first mug and poured it, man. I couldn’t believe how I hit the nail on the head. It tasted just like I remembered. I'm glad I had the lightbulb moment to create my own tea blend.
We love this as the green tea base for my green tea elixir as well as the green tea/fruity tea in Good Cheap Eats' medicine ball tea recipe. Also in that medicine ball, I use the wild mint Marius picks. I love being able to use what we have around us so I can trust the ingredients. It's so wonderful to be self-sufficient wherever possible!
This batch makes about a half-pint jar of dried tea. You can easily double it to keep it on hand for longer. If you've never brewed loose tea before, you'll just want to have a tea ball around (usually stainless steel or mesh) or you can buy single filter packs. We also use a French press as our "teapot" to easily strain the tea after brewing. For a single mug, I use a strainer like this.
Raspberry Hibiscus Green Tea
Ingredients
- 90 grams jasmine green tea
- 5 grams dried hibiscus flowers
- 5 grams freeze-dried raspberries crumbled up
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar and mix well. Store with an air-tight lid. This makes about a half-pint jar.
To brew in a mug:
- Use a tea basket or a fillable tea bag (we love these to make up tea bags to take camping!) and measure out 1 teaspoon of your tea blend. Fill mug with boiling water and let steep about 5 minutes.
To brew in a pot:
- Ours holds around 1-1.5 quarts of water— either just put the tea blend in loose and when you fill mugs, strain through a tea basket. You can also use one of the loose leaf tea bags OR we love our insulated stainless French press- we’ve never used it for coffee, It's SO convenient for loose leaf tea and keeps tea warm for hours.
- Use 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea blend, fill your tea pot with boiling water and let steep about five minutes.
Notes
- I enjoy it with some honey and a wedge of lemon. The lemon brightens its flavour AND colour. My kids add honey and milk- as they do to every tea. If you add lemon, dont add milk unless you enjoy curdled milk tea. My Mom drinks it straight- she says she is sweet enough already.
Katie Allison Friesen
This is such a delicious recipe! Thanks so much for sharing ?