Tea Granita: Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls Scented Green Tea
As we find ourselves in the thick of summer, I am seeking out unique ways to cool off with sweet tea infused treats. My current chilly tea treat of choice is granita, “a semi-frozen dessert of sugar, water, and flavorings originally from Sicily.”
Although you infuse any tea in granita, I prefer “the rich and surprisingly smooth fragrance and flavor of jasmine flowers” to compliment the richness of the honey used to make the treat truly sweet. The floral notes of Jasmine also add summery flavors, adding to the sweet experience. The green tea base is rather light, which is perfect for a granita as the taste should be refreshing, not vegetal. Here is a simple recipe for enough granita to cool off two people or one steamy person!
What You’ll Need:
- 5 cups of water (an average amount of water to fill a teapot)
- 8 teaspoons of Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls Scented Green Tea
- 3 teaspoons of honey
- two ice cube trays
- a blender
Steep 8 teaspoons of Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls Scented Green Tea in 5 cups of a water for 2 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons of honey or your sweetener of choice. I prefer honey as it adds a rich sweet notes to the final flavor. And if you’re looking to experiment with the flavor, try various type of honey infused with herbs, fruits and flowers to create a complex flavor. In my most recent batch of tea granita, I added local Alfalfa honey, which has a mild flavor allowing the distinct flavor profile of jasmine green tea to shine. You can also blend in local herbs such as mint or basil and even a few pieces of local fruit to spice up your everyday granita.
The traditional method for making granita calls for freezing it in a baking dish and whipping the mixture with a fork every 30minutes over a 3hour span. However, if you’re like me and don’t want to tend to your treats during your busy day, then pour the cooled tea and honey mixture into ice cube trays. And when you’re in need of a sweet tea granita fix, just take the trays from the freezer, let them thaw a bit and place them in a blender. Voila! Fresh tea granita!