Celebrate Summer: Green Tea Spice Rub & Iced Tea To-Go
Festive sparklers and cozy blankets are waiting patiently in the garage as we anticipate the upcoming 4th of July celebration. Rather than keep the entire celebration in your own backyard, why not head to the town park early and snag a spot to watch the fireworks display? Just be sure to ice your tea, grill up your favorite treats and pack a picnic basket so that you can take your celebratory snacks and sips with you.
Even though traditional spice rubs are a safe bet for any master griller, it might be time for a tea-themed extravaganza that starts with the grill. Add a burst of flavor to grilled chicken with a green tea spice rub. I recommend a tea that is blended with citrus & fruity notes, like our Citron Sonata Green Tea, which is chock full of bright, bold summer flavors (Green tea, Rooibos tea, candied Papaya bits, apple pieces, carrot bits, raisins, lemongrass, lemon bits, orange peels and orange blossoms).
The rooibos and green tea will add an earthy flavor to the savory chicken. After brushing olive oil on the chicken, coat the meat with the tea rub (2 tablespoons tea, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper), let it marinate overnight, and then grill as usual before packing it in the basket.
After treating your taste buds to the flavorful chicken, cool down during the hot summer afternoon & evening with a glass of iced tea. Our Cacao Mint Black tea is the perfect blend to ice and sip after a hearty picnic meal. The decadent cocoa and hazelnut pieces add a rich, natural sweetness to soothe any dessert craving. The naturally cooling mint will refresh mind, body and soul while aiding in digestion, so that you can comfortably ooh and ahh at the firework display after a big meal on the blanket. The hearty black tea is the perfect base for these flavors and will give you that extra burst of energy to keep you going until the last firework fades into the sky. So just steep and ice your tea the day before and pack it up in a few of our glass tea tumblers (the double-walled glass design insulates your tea to keep it cool), and you’re set for an afternoon & evening of summer celebration!
(photo courtesy of Tom Olliver)