Rosie Lee and Flavoured Tea Recipes
Ringing the changes for a tea addict
My father was a self confessed tea addict. There was always a pot of tea on the go when I was a child, or, if one had just finished, any excuse would be used to make a fresh pot.
I have put together these recipes for alternative tea based drinks in memory of my father. I never did have the chance to offer them to him, but I have no doubt he would have entered into the spirit of things. He was always ready to try anything.
Oh, and for those who are mystified, Rosie Lee is cockney rhyming slang for tea.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: a few hours or overnight
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 4 tea bags
- 1/4 pint or 125 ml blackcurrant drink concentrate
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 pint or 275 ml non-alcoholic cider or lemonade
- sliced lemon
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Put four teabags into a large jug of cold water and leave to soak. This prevents the tea becoming cloudy when it cools.
- Remove the teabags.
- Add the blackcurrant drink and lemon juice.
- Keep in the refrigerator until needed.
- Wash the lemons and slice thinly.
- At the last minute add either cider or lemonade.
- Add lemon slices and ice cubes.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: several hours or overnight
Serves: 4
Apple and ginger tea
- 2 tea bags
- 1/2 pint/275 ml unsweetened apple juice
- 1/2 pint/275 ml ginger beer
- 1 teaspoon grated root ginger
- I red apple
- cucumber
- mint
- crushed ice cubes
Instructions
- Leave 2 tea bags in 1/2 pint/275 ml cold water for several hours or overnight. This method prevents the tea from being cloudy.
- Remove the tea bags.
- Add apple juice, ginger beer, grated ginger.
- Slice the apple thinly and add, along with a few slices of cucumber.
- Serve chilled with a sprig of mint and crushed ice.
Apple shaped teapots!
Shaped teapots are of course collectors' item now and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I don't think I can resist apple shaped teapots, and I think they're perfect for serving an apple-flavoured tea. It would be a lovely idea to have an appropriately shaped teapot for each flavoured tea you serve, but I suspect that would reduce the value of a collector's piece,.
Orange tea - or a hot toddy
Unlike the previous two recipes, this one is served hot. It is perfect for the winter or for an unexpectedly chilly evening.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20. minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 pint/ 550 ml freshly made tea
- 4 heaped tablespoons marmalade
- grated rind and juice on one orange
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 6 cloves
- 2 tablespoon brandy (optional)
Instructions
- Put the freshly made tea in a stainless steel or non-stick saucepan together with the marmalade, orange rind and juice, the slices of orange and the cloves.
- Simmer for at least 15 minutes.
- If required, the brandy can be added just before straining and serving in heatproof glasses or mugs. You could add another slice of orange as you serve.
- My father, I think, would have preferred Irish whiskey instead of brandy..
Tea for one
Sometimes you don't want to serve a whole pot of tea. You can buy some lovely sets that consist of a teapot with a matching and stacking cup and saucer, which make just enough tea for one person.
Mint tea
A refreshing tea, and good for the digestion.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 15
Total Time: a few hours or overnight
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tea bags
- 1/2 pint/275 ml cold water
- 10 -15 sprigs of fresh mint
- 1/4 pint/ 125ml boiling water
- juice of 1 lemon
- juice of 2 oranges
- sugar to taste
- orange and/or lemon slices
- a few extra mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Leave 2 tea bags in 1/2 pint/275 ml cold water for several hours or overnight. As before, this prevents the tea from being cloudy.
- Pour a small amount (1/4 pint) water over the mint leaves and allow to soak for about 10 minutes.
- Strain and discard mint leaves.
- Allow to cool (or add an ice cube) and add to tea.
- Add juices of orange or lemon.
- Add sugar to taste. This will depend on the sweetness of the fruit and on your own preferences.
- Serve with fresh mint leaves and/or orange and lemon slices
Tea or coffee?
It seems to me the world is divided into tea drinkers or coffee drinkers. Even those who drink both seem to have a preference. Which side of the fence are you?
