Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Northern Tea

I can barely keep my eyes open. 

It is 10:00p.m. and I have finally sat down for the night.

There is nothing like getting past the last frost (hopefully) so you can get the last details planted. And it is always crunch time!  I am not a farmer but I have friends who are so I borrow that phrase from them.  Seriously though it seems like my list for today and now tomorrow are things that just have to be done and yesterday.  I am transplanting my strawberry beds to be in my garden instead of outside where the rabbits get them.  But then that just actually just led them to my garden.  Seriously! 

Asparagus needs to be finished, the last herbs need seeded and the sooner the better.  Ahh  but that is what is keeping me going tonight as I am burned from the sun, feet throbbing, arm muscles aching from shoveling, back breaking from weeding.  Not the pain but the grand feeling of accomplishment. 

Been meaning to give you all my recipe for Northern Tea.  It was penned that from several friends.  I am from the south but I do not like Southern Tea.  I know!  Shame! It is to sweet so I half the sugar.  I told some guests recently that the tea was sweet but not Southern sweet and they politely replied, "so it's northern tea?" and it has stuck ever since. 

I have also listed some variations that are equally delicious.



Northern Tea
Boil 4c water and add to a big 2 quart pitcher. 
Stir in 1/4 tsp baking soda and 3 family size tea bags. 
Let steep for 15 minutes.  Stir in 1c sugar.  Add 12c tap water. 
Pour over ice and say ahhhh...
(Think Country Time commercial)

Arnold Palmer Tea Angela Style
Boil 2c water and add to a 2 quart pitcher. 
Stir in 1/8 tsp baking soda and 2 family size tea bags.
Let steep for 15 minutes.  Stir in 1 1/2c sugar.  Add 13c water & 1c lemon juice.
Pour over ice.

Blueberry Tea
Boil 4c water, pour into pitcher.
Add 2 c blueberries, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 3 family size tea bags.
Let steep for 15 minutes. Strain while mashing berries.
Stir in 12c tap water.


I prefer Luzianne tea for the simple reason that when you take the bags out of the carton you don't also have to take them out of the individual wrapper.   Just a personal preference.

Why baking soda?  If you will have any leftover it will keep it from becoming cloudy.

Enjoy the summer friends!

Need something to do as you sit under the shade tree while sipping on ice tea?  Why not start birdwatching


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7 comments:

  1. I put baking soda in my husband's tea when I make it for iced tea too. It cuts the bitterness.

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    1. Kate I do remember reading that now! Thanks for reminding me.

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  2. Okay, this sounds really good. I have never heard of putting baking soda in tea! So, according to the comment from Kate above, it's to cut down on the bitterness? Sweet! I'll bet the baking soda also makes it less acidic and therefore better for your teeth! Question: What is a family sized teabag. All I have ever seen are the flow-through type that is for individual use. There there a family size to individual size ratio?

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    Replies
    1. Baking soda does two things. Keeps it from going cloudy and takes away the bitterness of the tea. Family size tea bags are just like the regular size but bigger so you don't have 20 regualr size tea bags to open and hang in your pitcher! They are the flow through type. I think the ratio would be double regular for the family and maybe even triple if you like a mild tea. Thanks for stopping by Vickie!

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  3. I'm going to have to give this a try! I am also from the South, but do not like southern sweet tea! I usually just drink it hot, which is considered a travesty down here. :)

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  4. This was an interesting post...I love sweet tea and especially the twist on Southern Tea to Northern Tea.

    Thanks for linking up over at WholeHearted Home this past week.

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  5. We just had a frost last night in mid-May in Virginia! We had to hustle to cover everything when we saw what the overnight temps were supposed to be. I will be so grateful to see the true warm weather finally arrive!

    Thank you so much for linking up again last week at Walking Redeemed!

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