Let’s face it. I’m a coffee person. When I wake up I drink at least one cup but most likely two. Iced coffee? Yes please, with cream and no sugar, thank you very much! But when it comes down to brass tacks, I was a tea drinker way before I even started to like coffee (well, I was prone to taking sips from my parents hot mugs of Sanka).
Growing up, we had a downstairs tenant and she loved to throw tea parties. She was really big into British culture and she made sure that I attended them. I didn’t mind one bit. After all, there were cookies and I was drinking tea….English tea. It made me feel all grown up and lady-like. I drank my tea with milk and a bit of sugar back then. For years, my tea was always “regular”…orange pekoe – unless I was sick and then it was something served up from my dad’s tea shelf, something herbal and bland that he purchased at tiny Eastern European grocers. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Fast forward to being all grown up and trying all kinds of teas and even liking the ones that my dad used to force on me when I was sick. What can I say, tastes change. When we were in Europe last fall, I tried a Rooiboos tea for the first time. Our couch surfing hosts served us some on ice and it was so delicious and refreshing. I drank a few glasses and when we came back to Canada I purchased some for myself. Drinking it hot was alright but it wasn’t like I had remembered. So the other day I decided to brew some up especially for iced tea. I added a bit of sugar syrup and some fresh lime juice to add a bit of extra zing. It’s perfect on ice. It’s delicate and fragrant and totally thirst quenching. And hey, it’s full of antioxidents, low in tannins and is even rumoured to fight cancer. Not bad for a glass of delicious.
rooiboos & lime iced tea
4 bags of rooiboos (red bush) tea
4 c boiling water
4 c cold water
1/3 c (more or less depending on taste) simple syrup
juice of 1 limeIn a large pitcher, add the 4 tea bags to the 4 cups of boiling water. Steep for several minutes until all the flavour has been sucked out of those bags. Remove tea bags and add cold water, simple syrup and lime juice. Stir and refrigerate. Serve with lots of ice and slices of lime or sprigs of mint.
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Looks like such a refreshing thirst-quencher!! :0)
Yes! I am always looking for interesting iced teas and I love rooiboos tea.
If you’re interested in finding some yummy flavoured rooibos, there’s a store in Steveston called Nikaido that sells many delicious flavours (my favourites being gingerbread orange and tiramisu). Bayswater Tea (on Broadway I think) also has good rooibos.
Oh I’m going to try this with my flavoured Rooibos teas!!! yumm thanks dear!!!
it is, veggiegirl!
thanks, trulie…it’s a good one.
eatme, steveston is soooo far, so i’ll check out the broadway store instead, tho i do like the sound of a tiramisu tea!
no problem, jenn!
I’d read about bush tea in the Precious Ramotswe novels but didn’t know it was available anywhere other than in Africa; I’ll have to make an effort to look for it now. Thanks.
Sounds good! We are fans of Rooibos, next time we will throw in some lime juice over ice.
I just recently started reading your blog, I like it! We are couchsurfers too! (username obstruction) We live in Glasgow but are from seattle area. We love the tea culture over here. Mmm.
I am a tea fanatic! I love all kinds of teas. My kitchen cupboard is packed with an assortment of teas from around the world.
Iced tea is the best drink for summertime. Who wants hot, steamy drinks when the weather is hot outside? Not me! Thanks for this recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Bayswater Tea Company has the best quality and selection of Rooibos (and other hundred or so teas) – located on Broadway and Bayswater. The owner is really knowledgeable and helpful =)
This tea looks fresh and summery. I’ve been making a lot of iced teas lately actually. I have been pretty traditional about it though so this gives me a little inspiration to spruce it up a bit.
hedgie, it’s quite common…go take a look for it. it’s worth it!
heather, i’m “kickpleat” on couch-surfing!
bijoux, i’m sure you’ll love it!
thanks punga, i’ll totally check it out.
cookinpanda, plain ol’ ice tea is definitely good, but it’s nice to mix things up once in a while.
Love rooiboos. I’ll have to try it with some lime. If you like just a hint of sweetness, the Good Hope Vanilla from Republic of Tea is terrific. It makes awesome sun tea!
Rooibos is one my favorite winter-time teas. We often go with the Celestial Seasonings vanilla red, which I take hot with a little soy milk & sometimes honey. I hadn't thought to ice it, but that sounds really good.
There's a great tea shop on NE Alberta St in Portland called Townshend Tea's – you can get any of their long list of teas either hot in a pot or on ice. It's allowed me to experiment beyond the usual black iced tea.
oh that looks refreshing. Hey remember me? Messy Cucina. lol. I’m back. I just posted about some refreshing Spanish drinks.
thanks carrie, i’ll keep my eye out for it!
maija, i’m not too fond of the vanilla red! i found another kind that wasn’t so sweet that i like better. if you do make this with the vanilla red, i’m curious to hear about it since i’ve got a whole box in my cupboard.
welcome back darla!
Glad you enjoyed the rooibos tea – it really is lovely with lemon, isn’t it? (ProudlySouthAfrican)
saw this on gojee! and decided to give it a whirl. i didn’t like rooiboos much hot, but cold it is refreshing and very palatable – thanking you for the recipe 🙂
Rooibos iced is new to me. I always go for the little samples of Rooibos at Teavna – it’s delicious. I noticed while shopping at Spec’s yesterday I nice selection of Rooibos – now I”m going back to get some as this sounds delicious!