Cool down with this refreshing green tea! Bursting with the sweet-tart flavor of honeyberries (also known as haskaps), this antioxidant-rich drink is the perfect summer sip.
Ingredients:
- 2 green tea bags
- 1 cup frozen haskap berries
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 lemon sliced
- Ice to serve
Directions:
Make the green tea infusion. In a quart jar, combine the green tea bags with 3 cups of cold water. Cover, place in the fridge and infuse overnight.
In the morning, remove the tea bags and drop a few slices of lemon in the jar. This is your iced green tea, ready for flavouring.
Make the haskap simple syrup. In a small saucepan, combine haskap berries, maple syrup, cinnamon and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes to cook the berries. They will soften, deflate, and release their juices. Remove the pot from the heat and let it infuse and cool somewhat. Remove the cinnamon stick.
Place a fine mesh colander over a bowl or measuring cup. Strain the haskap syrup into the colander; use a spatula to get every last drop from the pan. Press the berries slightly with the spatula and try to get as much juice as possible. Chill the haskap simple syrup in a jar until ready to serve; you should have nearly 1 cup.
Serve the iced tea: Shake both the iced green tea and the haskap syrup. Fill two glasses halfway up with ice. Fill the glass 3/4 with iced green tea, then top up with haskap syrup. Stir well, add a slice of lemon and serve immediately.
