Wow Your Guests with this Red Hot Cocktail

Let’s admit it, when hosting holiday parties we tend to over due it to delight, surprise, or impress our guests. We are always searching for that perfect balance between stunning and relatively easy – a tricky find. We are excited to share a recipe that fits that search, it’s both easy yet unique enough to stun your guests and send them home impressed.

 

Irish Red Cocktail

(Recipe creates 1 serving)

Ingredients:

½ cup Strong, Hot, Red Rooibos Tea*

1.5 tsp Brown Sugar

1 oz Irish Whiskey**

Heavy Cream (lightly whipped)***

Grated Chocolate

*Certain flavored rooibos also works such as Cinnamon Vanilla

** Any type of whiskey can work – can also substitute dark rum

*** Any kind of whipped cream will work

 

Directions:

Place brown sugar and whiskey into an individual cappuccino glass. Add hot Rooibos tea to the whiskey mixture and stir until sugar is dissolved. Carefully float whipped cream on top by pour it over the back of a metal spoon (or scoop and gently place on top if a thicker cream is used). Sprinkle grated chocolate on top and serve immediately. Sit back and enjoy the ooohs and ahhhs.

 

Just remember the host is always supposed to have fun too! Plan ahead and have the majority of the courses pre-made and the rest of the components simple, so that very little has to be made while the guests are there.

 

Happy Holidays & Hosting!

Rooibos – Not Just For Your Tea Cup!

Rooibos (Aspalathis linearis) is a natural herb indigenous to the South African Cedarberg Mountains.  This plant has been used as a tea for centuries in its home country but fairly recently it has turned into a worldwide phenomenon. Its popularity can be contributed to its high antioxidant levels, trace minerals, lack of caffeine, and naturally sweet taste making it both healthy and delicious! (You can learn more about Rooibos here.)

 

As consumers continue to get more familiar with Rooibos new ways to use this herb have surfaced everywhere from makeup to cocktails. If you’ve never used Rooibos for anything besides drinking tea, today’s your day to try it.

 

Easy Recipe #1:

 

Use your favorite bread recipe (we suggest a wheat/whole grain) and simply substitute the water for strongly brewed red rooibos tea.

 

This quick substitution will rock your world adding a slightly sweet, nutty, flavor without any additional calories. If you really want to change it up try using a flavored rooibos tea.  A personal favorite – Red Rooibos Gingerbread tea in a whole wheat bread recipe (such as: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/simple-whole-wheat-bread/detail.aspx). It is a perfect compliment on the Thanksgiving table or enjoyed with, what else, a cup of rooibos tea on the side!

 

Try this recipe once and you’ll be hooked to the taste while enjoying the wonderful health benefits of Rooibos. Enjoy!

Decaf vs Caffeine Free

It’s a known fact that Americans like coffee – maybe that’s an understatement, American’s LOVE coffee! Also on the rise is tea consumption in the U.S.Our international friends have been drinking tea for years but due to many reasons, including health concerns, theU.S.seems to be catching on. However, these trends have many people on high alert (pun intended) due to the amount of caffeine the general population is drinking. It’s really not caffeine that is scaring researchers, it’s the high levels of caffeine consumed that has people worried.

The solution – How about switching that usual cup of coffee or tea for decaf? Sounds simple right, possibly even healthier? Before you go ahead and do so – know the facts. This unique process is unnatural and has some alarmed.

Decaffeination Process:

There are four ways to decaffeinate coffee and only two of those are typically used for tea.

1)      Water Processing – In this method the green coffee beans are basically sprayed and immersed in hot water and steam, removing the majority of the caffeine content. Once this caffeine is removed they are then submerged back into the non-caffeinated solution to soak in some of the flavor that may have also been removed. This process does not use chemicals and is more natural however; most agree that this process also removes some of the taste making it less flavorful.

2)      Methylene Chloride Processing – This process starts similarly as the first, however, after the green coffee beans have been soaked in water, Methylene Chloride is used to extract most of the caffeine. The chloride is then removed and the newly decaffeinated product is shipped out. This product is usually much richer in taste is much less expensive than the water processing. As far as safety, experts say that only a tiny trace of the chemical could be found if any however, many people are still leery knowing chemicals are used in the process. This method can be used for tea as well but very few choose this for the delicate leaves – it is actually restricted in theUnited States.

3)      Ethyl Acetate Processing (EA) – Used for both coffee and tea, this method is sometimes deemed “natural” since EA is naturally found in many foods however, many experts still consider it a chemical substance. EA is applied to the beans or leaves which is the decaffeination process, it then is rinsed and only trace amounts of EA if any, are left behind on the product. However, some tea retailers have refused to use this method to decaffeinate green tea as it is said to remove many of the health properties naturally found in green tea. 

4)      Carbon Dioxide Processing (CO2) – This method is also used for both coffee and tea. Water and CO2 together, are used to decaffeinate the product. This method is said to retain a high amount of flavor as well as health benefits and is deemed safe. However, this is one of the most expensive methods of decaffeination and therefore more upscale brands tend to use this method.

In summary, most agree that the decaffeination process isn’t awful for you, it’s just not natural, and in some methods chemicals are used then removed. Looking for something to hit the spot without this decaffeination process? Many are turning to caffeine free herbal teas – especially Rooibos herbal tea.

Rooibos or Redbush

Rooibos is only grown inSouth Africaand does not come from the traditional tea leaf therefore it cannot be called a tisane or tea. This unique plant, which has needle-like properties compared to leaves, is naturally caffeine free meaning zero traces of caffeine exist and it does not go through any processing. This herbal tea is still filled with many health benefits including antioxidant rich, low tannins, zero calories, and naturally sweet taste. Enjoyed plain, with agave, honey, or milk, and as its popularity increases, more and more blends are available from Red Rooibos with Pomegranate & Strawberry to Green Rooibos with Hoodia (natural appetite suppressant).

So if you’re still craving a hot cup at night or simply trying to cut back on caffeine, remember there are many options out there both decaffeinated or caffeine free.

Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe

Nothing is better than relaxing in the shade on a beautiful summer day with a drink in your hand. For the perfect summer cocktail it must be light, refreshing, easy, and of course delicious – look no further. Introducing another cocktail to enter the High Tea Cocktail Collection – Green Tea Mojito!

There’s two ways to make this delicious drink – the first being the easiest. Take your favorite mojito recipe and substitute the soda for Suffuse Green Rooibos Tea. It adds another flavor element that is fun and tasty.

The other way is especially useful if you’re short on mint – infusing Organic Green Rooibos with Peppermint to the rum, it can bring a powerful minty taste without any fresh mint at all!

Step 1: Infuse your favorite Rum (we suggest Texas-made Railean Rum) with Green Rooibos Peppermint loose leaf tea. Do this by adding 1 tsp of the tea  per 2 oz of rum – seal as best as possible and refrigerate 8-24 hours.  (If you only have tea bags, cut them open and pour the contents into the rum).

Step 2: Once the tea has infused, (the longer it infuses the stronger the flavor will be), strain the rum by pouring it through a coffee filter.

Step 3: (for one serving) Squeeze the juice of one small lime into a sturdy glass. Add 1 tbsp Agave nectar (can be altered depending on sweetness preference).

Step 4: Add 1.5 oz of the rum that was infused with Green Rooibos Peppermint tea.

Step 5: Mix Well. Then fill the rest of glass with cracked ice leaving a little room on top.

Step 6: Add a splash of soda water and mint leaves to garnish.

Enjoy the refreshing twist on your new-found favorite mojito recipe!

Green Rooibos – What is it Anyway?

While Red Rooibos herbal tea has seen an increase in consumption all over the world, including the U.S., Green Rooibos seems to be lagging behind in availability and choices. Therefore, many have not even heard of it, or know nothing about it. We’re here to change that – here’s the low down on Green Rooibos and why you should give it a try!

The Basics – Green Rooibos is identical to Red Rooibos – grown exclusively in South Africa, full of antioxidants, naturally caffeine free, needle-like bush, herbal, delicious, etc. – however green Rooibos by-passes the traditional curing process, retaining higher levels of defensive antioxidants and a different flavor profile. Basically, it gets cut and packaged much quicker than Red Rooibos which is dried in the hot dessert sun to oxidize, achieving its deep red color. 

Taste – Green Rooibos is still very similar in taste to Red Rooibos however, many agree that it has a much more mild flavor and slightly more earthy. Overall, if one loves either Red or Green Rooibos they most likely will love the other as well. 

Look – the appearance is no surprise – very similar to Red Rooibos but contains more of a green hue. When brewed, the color starts off as a yellow/light green and continues to get darker and look more similar to Red Rooibos the longer it is steeped. 

Directions – Steeping Green Rooibos is identical to Red Rooibos except that you may want to add a minute or two. Keep in mind that either one can steep as long as you desire – very little tannins are present therefore, a bitter taste is never an issue. Rooibos is a very hearty plant which is why steeping time can vary so drastically – it’s incredibly hard to ruin the taste of Rooibos no matter how hot the water is or how long you leave a tea bag steeping.

Green Rooibos can obviously be made hot but also makes a FANTASTIC iced tea. So go ahead, give it a try – with the perfect combination of taste and health, it may just become your favorite new drink!

The Perfect Cup of Tea!

The basics of creating an amazing Red Rooibos with Mango Peach Drink: 

1)      Pick out your favorite tea cup – for some reason having a mug you love always makes the occasion more enjoyable.

2)      For hot Tea – using a tea bag:

1. Place one tea bag in your favorite cup. Pour approximately 8-10 fl oz of boiling water into the cup (amount of water can vary depending on strength preference).
2. Let sit (steep) for approximately 3 minutes. (The amount of steeping time can vary drastically when making Rooibos due to the fact that there is extremely low tannin content therefore it will never get bitter no matter how long it steeps so there’s no right or wrong in timing – rule of thumb: the longer the bag stays in, the stronger it gets).
3. Enjoy plain, or stir in any of your favorites – lemon, sugar, milk, honey, or our personal recommendation – Agave nectar.

3)      For Iced Tea – using a tea bag:

1. Place one tea bag in a hot/cold resistant cup (like a mug). Pour approximately 3 fl oz – or just below half – of boiling water into the cup. Let sit (steep) for at least 3 minutes (can be as long as you’d like).
2. Carefully remove tea bag.
3. Fill the rest of the cup with ice.
4. Enjoy plain, or stir in any of your favorites – lemon, sugar, milk, honey, or our personal recommendation – Agave nectar.

4)      For Hot Tea – using Loose Leaf:

1. For one serving, approximately 8-10 fl oz, scoop 1 teaspoon of loose leaf into a fine tea strainer of your choice. It needs to be fine (small holes) due to the composition of Rooibos being small needle-like pieces that can easily slip through traditional strainers.
2. Pour 8-10 fl oz of boiling water over the strainer.
3. Let steep (sit) for at least 3 minutes. (The amount of steeping time can vary drastically when making Rooibos due to the fact that there is extremely low tannin content therefore it will never get bitter no matter how long it steeps so there’s no right or wrong in timing – rule of thumb: the longer the leaves stay in, the stronger it gets).
4. Remove strainer containing tea contents.
5. Enjoy plain, or stir in any of your favorites – lemon, sugar, milk, honey, or our personal recommendation – Agave nectar, then enjoy.

 5)      For Iced Tea – using Loose Leaf

1. Follow the same instructions as a tea bag but substitute loose leaf using the strainer.
2. For large quantities use a teapot with a strainer attached that can make a full pot of tea. Make double strength and pour over pitcher of ice.
3. Enjoy.

Pomegranate MarTEAni

Looking for a cocktail that may help avoid a hangover in the morning? Or simply need a new summer drink to welcome those hot nights? You’ve come to the right place – introducing our newest creation from the “High Tea Cocktails Collection” – The Pomegranate MarTEAni!

Rooibos, known for its high levels of antioxidants, low tannin content, and amazing health properties (including anti-aging and healthy skin properties) is joined together with antioxidant-rich pomegranate for a perfect blend of health and taste!

Ingredients:

2 oz Lemon Vodka infused with Suffuse Pomegranate Red Rooibos**

4 oz Pomegranate Lemonade

Splash of 100% Pomegranate Juice

Ice

Colored Sugar (optional)

 Directions:

Fill cocktail shaker with ice then add the first three ingredients over the ice. Shake. Pour into martini glasses. To add a special touch – before making the drink, wet and dip rim of glass in colored sugar. Enjoy!

 **To make Rooibos infused vodka add the contents of four tea bags, or one rounded Tablespoon of loose leaf Rooibos (in this recipe we used pomegranate Rooibos), to 6 fl oz of vodka (in this recipe we used Lemon Vodka). Cover to seal as well as possible. Let sit in the refrigerator for a minimum of 12 hours and a max of 48 hours. Strain vodka to remove Rooibos – we recommend using a coffee filter to make sure no remnants pass through.

 

Natural Heart Burn Relief

Heartburn affects millions of Americans on a weekly basis and sends us scurrying to find a cure. Expensive medications have been developed to aid relief however, these prescriptions are not for everyone. What about going back to the basics and trying to fix it naturally? It may be easier than you think – a healthy eating schedule, reducing stress, and even incorporating Rooibos tea can possibly aid in the relief of this painful condition.

Many do not realize the powerful effects of simply avoiding certain foods and beverages. Common heartburn triggers include; peppermint, coffee, greasy foods, alcohol, citrus, caffeine, and carbonated beverages to name a few. These may not be the problem for everyone so try to avoid them temporarily and see what helps. It’s best to keep a journal logging exactly what you ate and the severity of your heartburn so that changes can be pinpointed.

Stress can also be a huge cause of heartburn. The human body is amazing at giving clues when it is being overworked or overstressed – heartburn is one of these that signal the need for relaxation. Exercising and meditation can also help as well as natural herbs, such as Rooibos, that have a calming effect on the central nervous system.

Simply drinking Rooibos tea in itself can possibly help the severity of heartburn. This unique herb contains antispasmodic properties which have been known to calm heartburn as well as sooth upset stomach and colic. As of now, no negative side affects have been found so there is no risk in trying Rooibos compared to prescription drugs. To gain even more effectiveness try a Rooibos blend that has other natural remedies such as Rooibos with licorice.

Overall, if your heartburn is severe, you should visit a doctor as it can have extremely harmful effects over time.  If you’d rather go a natural route try these tips or talk to your doctor about planning a treatment combining the best of both worlds.

Rooibos for Acne

Rooibos herbal tea has continued to jump in popularity primarily due to its use as a natural home remedy to help allergies, insomnia, and infant colic. Most recently it has emerged into the beauty industry receiving much attention due to its amazing ability to help with the relief of acne.

This extremely unique herb contains many anti-inflammatory components as well as zinc, alpha hydroxyl, vitamins and various powerful antioxidants. Innovative skincare products have been created that capture these nutrients to provide a natural remedy for a healthy complexion. In addition, many contain all-natural ingredients meaning they have no harmful chemicals or preservatives which may produce allergic reactions or further skin damage.

If you do not want to commit to buying a product new to the market, you can still attain the natural benefits by simply using Rooibos tea. The following are extremely easy ways to incorporate it into your present skincare regimen at home.

1)      Simply drink Rooibos on a regular basis, without added sugar, and your body will receive the powerful effects of the antioxidants and other beneficial properties through the bloodstream. Drinking this herbal tea truly helps your skin from the inside out!

2)      Take a Rooibos bath by filling the tub halfway with very hot water and adding in approximately four tea bags. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, if it is still uncomfortably hot, mix in cold water. Submerge your body and relax while your skin soaks in the extremely healthy nutrients.

3)      Use Rooibos as a facial toner by boiling approximately two cups of water with two tea bags for a minimum of ten minutes. Remove from heat and let the tea bag combination cool in the refrigerator. Once chilled, discard tea bags and use the liquid as you would a typical toner. To fight acne, it is recommended to use a toner once in the morning and once in the evening. You can save the excess in the refrigerator approximately 10 days for future use.

4)      Substitute strongly brewed Rooibos into your own homemade lotion or cream recipes. By doing this, you will still get the consistency of using water but with the addition of more antioxidants, minerals, and anti-inflammatory agents.

To get the greatest effects from Rooibos, use a combination of these, particularly both internally (drinking) and topically. Results will vary but should be seen in approximately 1-2 weeks.

Give Rooibos a try and you will be delighted with the amazing results, not only concerning acne, but your entire skin wellbeing!

Using Tea to Keep off the Holiday Pounds

We have officially entered the holiday season with Thanksgiving now past. So much to look forward to; family, friends, relaxing, time off, football games and of course…FOOD! There’s something about the holidays that seems to make eating an enormous amount of food containing an enormous amount of calories acceptable, or even encouraged. How many of us, year after year, leave the holiday season just a little pudgier…?

There’s plenty of tips out there – use a smaller plate, go for walks, bring a healthy dish to pass, skip the seconds…I’ve heard them all. The only problem is that to be completely honest, I don’t want to hold back, it’s the holidays! When people get together for a party, they like to eat and drink and not think about it because let’s be truthful, that takes part of the fun away right?

So this year, I’m trying something new – drinking a newfound love – Rooibos tea! A big trap many of us fall into is eating because everyone is sitting around chatting, enjoying each others company, and snacking on whatever is sitting out. Before you know it, you’ve snacked your way to hundreds of calories before the actual meal has even begun!

So this year, while everyone is munching away, try sipping on some tea instead. Sounds simple right? Think about it though, a large quantity of liquid will help fill you up, at the same time, it keeps you occupied since it takes a while to sip a hot drink and you are still included in the group gathered around the table eating and drinking. Besides that, the aromas of the teas are unbelievable and the taste is truly delicious!

My favorite pick for this time of year is red Rooibos with Gingerbread. I meet many people fairly new to tea and Rooibos is mild enough that everyone seems to enjoy it even if they aren’t hardcore tea lovers. This redbush, herbal tea is calorie free, caffeine free, full of antioxidants, and still has that holiday feel and taste that we all crave. If gingerbread isn’t your style, get creative – Rooibos with Eggnog, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Cinnamon & Vanilla…look for medley packs that allow you to try multiple flavors in one box. There’s a huge variety of Rooibos to choose from so finding a flavor you love won’t be an issue.

Ahh…yes, my friends, that’s a sigh of relief. Will you shed unwanted pounds? Probably not but we can now approach this wonderful time of year with a realistic weapon to finally fight off those extra pounds that make it so difficult to get into that New Year’s Eve outfit! So have fun, enjoy your company, enjoy your food, and enjoy your new little secret to avoid those sneaky pounds!