I Got the Tea(OUTSPOKEN_DIVA'S Favorite Recipes)

I am a tea drinker. Coffee smells great but tastes like poison. Cocoa is delicious but too high in calories to drink all the time. Soda is high in sodium and I am constantly trying to kick that addictive monkey out my life. Tea is a perfect balance. I like hot tea. I like iced tea. Oh, I am a Texan and hate sweet tea. I like my iced tea sweetened and with lemon.

Y'all can keep those dark glucose water experiments that keep being served everywhere. My favorite flavored tea is Peach. The best tea at a restaurant is Wendy's Honest Tropical Green Tea. I think Celestial Seasonings tastes the best, yet I am not a brand loyalist to any tea company. Recently, I was asked by my cousin, Janette(blog name) & her friends for tea recipes and this post idea was born.

My life with tea started young. My grandmother was a part of a garden club and her church's mission society. She hosted & went to many teas. Sometimes the grandchildren were with her and we learned to conduct ourselves in tea party culture. We also learned how to prepare teas. My favorite tea I learned was Friendship Tea. It is a very tangy tea. I liked the non-instant recipe better than the instant. That is the one I will post. But both are simple to make.

Friendship Tea

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 orange pekoe tea bag(black tea)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp orange breakfast drink mix(I've used Tang)

Directions:

1. In small pot combine water, lemon juice, cloves, cinnamon Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove pot from the heat.
2. Add the tea bag and let steep for 5 minutes. 
3. Add the sugar & orange drink milk and stir to dissolve.
4. Serve hot.

He is probably the most consistent man in life. My cousin, D.D. introduced him because our favorite Star Trek commander, Jean Luc Picard hung with him. Earl Grey is a smooth & comforting black tea. His bergamot & orange notes hug me so tight. And when I turn him into a latte, it is like he is using the milk as a blanket he is wrapping around me with both his arms.

London Fog Latte
Ingredients

• 1 earl grey tea bag
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup milk(I prefer 1% or unsweetened vanilla almond)
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

Directions:

1. Add hot water and tea bag to a mug. Steep for a few minutes or until desired strength is reached, then discard the tea bag.
2. While the tea is steeping, add milk to a microwave-safe jar that comes with a lid. Secure the lid.
3. Vigorously shake for a minute or until the milk foamy. Remove the lid. 
4. Microwave the uncovered milk until hot, about 30 seconds, and the foam will separate from the milk and rise to the top. Use immediately.
5. Add sugar and vanilla extract to the mug, stirring until dissolved. 
6. Pour the frothed milk on top, spooning the milk foam to top. Serve while hot.

Oh "I Don't Drink Tea" readers I didn't leave you out. I don't always drink tea as tea. And the best way to not-drink drink it is as lemonade. I rarely drink at coffee & tea spots but I will admit they have some very creative & tasty drinks. I had Lavender Tea Lemonade once one summer and I had to create it so I could have it at home. I am a fan of the calming effects of lavender. Hot tea with lavender helps me to sleep. In a cold beverage, it does soothe my anxiety and nerves during warm & hot weather.

Lavender Tea Lemonade

Ingredients:

• 6 cups boiling water
• 4 lavender tea bags(I've used Yogi)
• 3 cup room temperature water
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups lemon juice plus 1 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags in a heatproof container and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and allow the tea to cool.
2. Combine the sugar with the room temperature water in a measuring cup or bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves to make a syrup.
3. Pour the lemon juice into a vat or large pitcher, add the syrup and tea and stir. 
4. Add the lemon slices.
5. Chill for 4-8 hours to let the flavors develop, then serve.

So, that's my tea on tea. By the time I post this, I may be drinking a cup of tea. Tea is less caffeinated than coffee. I'm told it is reducing my risk of stroke and heart attack. I just know I like tea. And it seems to like me back.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!