Egyptian iced tea

Name: Egyptian iced tea
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 500ml
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: *1 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers; 500ml boiling water; 1 tbsp honey, agave syrup or sugar syrup; 2 sprigs of basil or mint; 

February 11, 2015

Cool contender: Brewtown Newtown's Egyptian iced tea.Edwina Pickles

easyTime:< 30 minsMakes:500ml

It's claimed Egyptian iced tea can help regulate blood pressure and relieve fluid retention. It's also high in antioxidants and a rich source of vitamin C. But you could just drink it because it tastes like adult Ribena. To cold-brew the tea, combine the flowers with cold water and steep overnight, then strain, sweeten and serve over ice.

Ingredients

*1 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
500ml boiling water
1 tbsp honey, agave syrup or sugar syrup
2 sprigs of basil or mint

Method

1. Place the flowers in a jug and add boiling water. Add the honey, agave syrup or sugar syrup, stirring, then taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking. Allow to cool, then refrigerate until required.
2. To serve, strain out the flowers, and pour the tea over plenty of ice in two glasses. Add a sprig of basil or mint - and a dash of soda water for a bit of sparkle if you like – and serve.
Tip: You could make this tea in a flash with hibiscus tea bags, but dried hibiscus flowers give a deeper, darker, more potent brew. Look for dried hibiscus flowers at health food stores and online at zensation.com.au, herbcottage.com.au and bushtuckershop.com