I don't know about you, but I love summer days at the lake.
Any body of water will do really, be it as small as an inflatable pool or as wide as the ocean. Sit me down next to the water, a drink in my hand, and you have placed me square in the middle of my happy place. There is, however, a key ingredient to that happy place.
For those of you who may not have caught it: "a drink in my hand".
These days there are plenty of fun and fancy drinks to choose from, but there really is no need to buy fancy seltzers or cheap, sugary powder mixes. You can make your own delicious lakeside beverages with a little help from your friends at the Marais Tea Company! I present to you: Cold Brew Iced Teas and Infusions.
I'm sure that, by now, you have heard of Cold Brew Coffee, but the cold brew method is not just reserved for Tea's high-energy cousin. With a simple recipe, and a little bit of patience (or preparedness, whichever suits your style), you too can enjoy a refreshing Cold Brew Ice Tea in hand next to your [insert body of water here]!
Cold Brew Styles
As with anything, there are different styles in which to make your Cold Brew depending on the ingredients you are using. The principle remains the same, it's not advanced chemistry, but there are some slight differences.
Black Tea (aka "Sweet Tea")
Sweet Tea is as bountiful as water in the Southern United States. In the movie Steel Magnolias, Dolly Parton dubs it "the house wine of the South". The first documented Sweet Tea recipe was in a cook book entitled Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree in 1878. Mrs. Tyree's recipe called for green tea but during World War II green tea from Japan and China became unavailable. Americans turned to black tea from British India and the modern "Sweet Tea" recipe was born!
To make a Cold Brew Sweet Tea, all you need is some cold water, some black tea, and a pitcher. If you're feeling a little sweet, add some simple syrup and a slice of lemon or two! Feel free to follow along with Marais Tea Co.'s Cold Brew Sweet Tea recipe:
Cold Brew Sweet Tea
Ingredients:
- 1 L of Cold Water
- 1 Tbsp of Black Tea (recommend tea: Master Origins: Kenya BOLD)
- 1 Tbsp of Lemon Juice (fresh or bottled)
- 2 Tbsp of Simple Syrup
- 2 Lemon Slices (or to taste)
Directions:
- Place the Black Tea in a steeping device of your choice (I suggest Marais's "Teeli Tea Filters - Large") and combine with the Cold Water in a pitcher.
- Place in Fridge for 3-5 hours (We recommend 5 hours) or longer to taste. Feel free to experiment with timing, the tea will not get "bitter" (but it will get "strong") as the tea tannins are not activated without hot water.
- After the allotted time, remove the Black Tea from the pitcher. Add the Lemon Juice and Simple Syrup. Stir.
- Add Lemon Slices, ice, and any other garnishes as desired (say, a drink umbrella?) and Enjoy!
Green Tea
Green Tea is a less popular style of Iced Tea, but don't write it off just yet! There are a number of delicious options for making a refreshing glass of green tea on the rocks! Marais Tea Co.'s North American Tea Championship Winner "Walnut" also won the Vancouver Iced Tea Festival's "Best-in-Class" Iced Green Tea category! If a hint of nutty walnut doesn't jive with your style, Marais Tea Co. features some unbelievable fruit-inspired green teas like "Place des Fleurs" or "Jardin des Papillions". Enjoy a splash of sweet apricot or black currant in a healthy and hydrating beverage!
As noted in the Cold Brew Sweet Tea recipe, tea tannins aren't activated with cold water so you can steep your tea as long as you like without it getting "Bitter". I recommend a full night's sleep for your Cold Brew Green Tea: 8+ hours in the fridge overnight. You'll have a nice pitcher of cool, refreshing green tea the next morning for your sunny day sippin' at the lake!
Strawberry-Pineapple Tea On-the-Rocks
Ingredients:
- 1 L Cold Water
- 1 Tbps "Secrets of Shaolin" Green Tea
- 2 Strawberries (thinly sliced)
- 2 Pineapple Slices (thinly sliced)
Directions:
- Place the Green Tea in a steeping device of your choice (I suggest Marais's "Teeli Tea Filters - Large") and combine with the Cold Water in a pitcher.
- Place in Fridge for 8+ hours.
- After the allotted time, remove the Green Tea from the pitcher.
- Add Strawberry and Pineapple Slices, ice, and Enjoy!
Herbal or Fruit Infusion
Nothing quite says "Summer is Here!" like exotic fruits. Sweet, juicy, and bursting with flavour, fruit is Nature's organic candy! All of your favourite summer flavours like strawberry, kiwi, peach, pineapple, passionfruit, and more are captured in Marais Tea Co.'s collection of Herbal and Fruit Infusions. While each infusion makes a delicious cup of hot... "tea"... they often achieve their full-potential on ice!
Similar to cold brew green tea, herbal and fruit infusions need at least 8+ hours steeping in the fridge. I would like to spotlight two infusions that make particularly delicious Iced Infusions: Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal Infusion and Strawberry Kiwi Fruit Infusion.
Lemon and Orange citrus with a smooth touch of Vanilla make for cool refreshing sips while you feel the sand between your toes. Lemongrass Vanilla is a fan favourite for a reason, I highly recommend giving this one a try!
Strawberry and Kiwi, is there a more iconic 90's flavour combo? Take a trip back in time to the days of Super Nintendo, Grunge Music, and Seinfeld on Cable TV! Add some slices of strawberry and kiwi to this Cold Brew Infusion and enjoy every sip of this juicy sweet beverage in the sunshine.
Cold Brew Herbal or Fruit Infusion
Ingredients:
- 1 L Cold Water
- 1 Tbsp (heaping) Herbal or Fruit Infusion Blend
Directions:
- Place the Herbal or Fruit Infusion Blend in a steeping device of your choice (I suggest Marais's "Teeli Tea Filters - Large") and combine with the Cold Water in a pitcher.
- Place in Fridge for 8+ hours.
- After the allotted time, remove the Herbal or Fruit Infusion Blend from the pitcher.
- Add ice and any other desired garnishes (like orange slices) and Enjoy!