3 (Healthy) Summer Tea & Spice Treats

Maybe this isn't an entirely earth shattering blog post.  But listen, I have an almost-5-year-old on my hands.  An almost-5-year-old who thinks now that summer vacay has officially arrived, every day is worth celebrating with candy, ice cream and the likes.  Secretly, I wish I could jump on the candy train with him, but I'm a mama, and I am supposed to be logical, you know...that voice of reason.  Sigh.  So, as I often do, I turn to the tea and spice shelves of my shop for inspiration.  The truth is, they really are brimming with healthy treats in the waiting...you just have to use a little imagination.  And when it comes to my son's health, I'm totally not beyond trickery.  So, as the sun sets on Canada Day, our first official summer holiday, I write this blog for all of us.  May we (and our children) happily survive the soon-to-come onslaught of parties, beaches, barbecues, weddings and showers.  

1.  TEA POPSICLES  
A natural, preservative-free way of enjoying a frozen treat.

First, brew your chosen tea at double strength (using twice the leaves you’d normally use).  Strain your tea leaves.  Then, add your preferred sweetener (we use a touch of honey or a bit of an infused simple syrup). You can also add flavour by blending in ingredients like lemon juice, mango nectar, finely chopped mint leaves, puréed strawberries or almond paste. No matter what you add, stir it in very well.
Pour your tea into popsicle molds and place them in the freezer.  After the first hour, stir the mixture (this helps keep the sweetener and other ingredients from concentrating in the tips of the ice pops).  Then, keep them in the freezer until frozen (about four hours, depending on the size and your particular freezer). Tea popsicles taste the best when enjoyed within one week of freezing.
We suggest:  Blueberry Rooibos Tea with a Ginger-Infused Simple Syrup

 2.  STRAWBERRY & CARDAMOM AGUA FRESCA.

Agua Fresca is a  refreshing summer drink common throughout Mexico.

Ingredients
6 cups hulled strawberries 
¹/₃ cup sugar
4 cups water
¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes) 
¹/₃ cup sugar
6 cups hulled strawberries
¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
4 cups water
1 tbsp Charmed Spices Green Cardamom Pods

Method
1.  With the butt of a knife, slightly hammer open each cardamom pod.  Place pods in the 4 cups of water and steep overnight.
2.  Remove pods from water.
3.  Combine cardamom water and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Place strawberries in a blender, and process until smooth. Combine the sugar mixture, strawberry puree, and lime juice; stir well.

3.  CHAI FROZEN YOGURT
Because it's yummy.
 Ingredients:
2 heaping tablespoons All Things Tea Chai Indienne Tea
 ¾ cups water 
32 ounces (by weight) Greek Vanilla Yogurt
1 pinch Charmed Spices Vietnamese Cinnamon
1 pinch Charmed Spiced Ground Cardamom 
1 pinch Charmed Spices Ground Ginger 
1 tablespoon sugar

Method
1. In a mug, brew the Chai Indienne in the 3/4 cup water for 5 minutes. Remove leaves. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
2.  By hand, gently mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Add the sugar last if you are going to use it. Start with 1 tablespoon but you can use 2 tablespoons at the most. You really don’t need the sugar, I just think it makes the chai flavor stand out.
3.  Process according to your ice cream maker instructions. Stand by with a spoon to taste test as it is churning, trust me, you won’t be able to control yourself!

Of course with all these recipes, you can swap out the types of teas, fruits and spices you use.  The idea is that we really can have tasty treats without going offtrack too much.  Well - the firecrackers are sounding off behind my house and I have a tray full of iced tea popsicles to try out....so off I go.  Happy Birthday, Canada!  And happy summer to all of you.  Thanks for reading!