Mediterranean Lemonade and Chilled Green Tea

Hot today?

I’d like to welcome summer with two of my favorite thirst-quenchers: the Mediterranean lemonade and green ice tea.

A cinch to make, both are refreshing, hydrating, and… unsweetened!

I often make a jug of chilled green tea (which I interchangeably call green ice tea) and hope it would last a few days. But then I sip the whole thing and end up making yet another jug the next day…

I find both beverages pleasant without sweetening, but if sweetening is desired, you can go with something natural such as stevia.

If you don’t like green tea, make your iced tea with any other tea/fruit tea/herbal tea.

What you see in the picture is a glass of homemade green ice tea.

Green Ice Tea

Sweetened by: none (stevia is optional)

Special equipment: none

Preps: 3 minutes (cool time: 1 ½ hours, fridge time: 1 hour)
Makes: 1 quart

You will need:
2 tea bags of high quality green tea
3 ¾ cups very hot water (just under boiling)
½ cup ambient water
Optional: A slice of lemon for decoration
Optional: A sweetener to taste

How to make it:
1. Drench tea bags in ambient water, then pour very hot water on top of the tea bags, stir gently, and let the tea brew and cool down. Sweeten to taste if desired. (We don’t use boiling water as it will destroy the nutrients in the green tea).
2. Once cool, refrigerate for an hour.
3. Before serving, decorate with a slice of lemon. Serve chilled.

Chill Tips:

• Place your drink in the freezer for a few minutes.
• Add ice cubes to your drink. (Even better if they’re green tea ice cubes so they don’t dilute the drink)

Mediterranean Lemonade

This is a simple homemade lemonade, into which - in a Mediterranean spirit- we add mint and cuke for some extra freshness!

Sweetened by: none (stevia is optional)

Special equipment: none (squeezer and infuser are optional)

Preps: 3 minutes (optional fridge time: 30 minutes)
Makes: 1 quart

You will need:
1 lemon, squeezed
4 cucumber rings, diced
2-3 sprigs fresh mint, lightly squished
Cold water
Optional: A few fresh fruits, such as apple or grapes, diced
Optional: A few slices of lemon for decoration
Optional: A sweetener to taste

How to make it:
1. Squeeze lemon, including pulp, into a quart pitcher.
2. Add cucumber and mint into the pitcher (and fruit and sweetener if desired). If you use an infuser, it should be submerged.
3. Cover with cold water. Stir.
4. Optional: refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the water absorb the flavors.
5. Before serving, decorate with a slice of lemon. Serve chilled.

I hope the weather stays sunny and beautiful this weekend.

Time to go sit on the porch with a lovely lemonade!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and happy sipping!

Didi
Wise Choice Market

DO YOU LIKE FRESH FRUIT?
I have written over 30 easy fruit recipes to make from scratch at home!
All the recipes are in my book Fresh Fruit Anyone? Easy Homemade Fruit Treats from Scratch, where you will find fruit-based snacks and desserts, mango porcupines, unique lemonades and smoothies, berry slushies, banana ice creams, orange-strawberry popsicles, peach jelloes, apple compotes, pear and berry jams, awesome no-bowl fruit salads, and much more!
I invite you to explore, enjoy, dig in, and be inspired by this fruitilicious feast!
Didi