Tales of the Orient, Lime & Cucumber Granita

Tales of the Orient is a caffeine-free, citrussy, medium-bodied rooibos blend. Notes of sweet mango, lemon peel and pink pepper add layers of indulgence to this thirst-quenching brew and makes this the perfect base for a great dessert or impressive cocktail. You’ll need a relatively powerful blender to make this recipe but it doubles up really well and can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. It was so well received when we served it at a recent family barbecue held on a hot August day. Makes a great palette cleanser too if you want to serve it during a dinner party, just change the cocktail glass to a shot glass!

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp “Tales of the Orient” loose leaf tea or 2 teabags

• 2 limes, peeled

• 50g cucumber

• 2 kaffir lime leaves (buy the frozen ones from an Asian supermarket, don’t use the dried ones)

• 60g coconut sugar, or caster sugar

• 4 cups ice cubes

 

Equipment

• blender

• speed peeler or sharp paring knife

 

Method

• Make a strong flavoured tea by placing the loose leaf tea or teabags into a bowl and pour 125ml of just boiled water over. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid and discard the tea leaves. Ensure the tea is cold before using in the next step.

• Pour the cooled down tea into the blending jug. Place all the remaining ingredients into the jug in the order listed above. This is important for the blender to successfully process and to create the granita.

• Turn the machine on and quickly bring the speed to its highest setting. Use the blender tamper to ensure all the ingredients mix effectively. Blend up to 45 seconds or until you reach the required consistency.

• Stop the machine and serve immediately. The granita will store well for up to 2 weeks in the freezer but remove 10 minutes before serving.

 

"AFTER INDULGING IN MEATY RIBS AND HUGE BURGER STACKS, THE GRANITA PROVIDED THE PERFECT END TO A SCORCHING SUMMER DAY."