Summer Lovin' : Tea Granitas!

Cooling, Refreshing and Delicious!

~ Tea Infused Granitas to please your palate

I'll discuss a little history of granita's, some tea talk including nutritional aspects and, the recipe's to make your own.

Watermelon Jasmine Granita

Sparkling Mojito

Strawberry Ceylon Granita

Granitas:

For thousands of years people saved ice to satisfy their desire for cool drinks, traditionally served in Europe.  this is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.

The word granita comes from the Italian word referring to  "water ice" but with a more granular texture.

Water ices or granitas may be served as a stand-alone refreshment, as a dessert, or as a means of refreshing the palate about halfway through a meal of many courses.

Classic Sicilian granitas are almond and coffee flavours which are served with a brioche like bun called a brioscia used to scoop up coffee flavored ice cream and a glass of coffee granita.
 Traditional Sicilian granitas are made with wild berries, when in season.

The great advantage of granita over other forms of frozen dessert is that they are very easy to make and you don't need special equipment. All you need is a pan, a tray, a fork and a freezer.

 As a small child I have fond memories of eating "Italian ice, hence granitas! Later I traveled to Europe, where I was served granitas in between meals, to cleanse and refresh one's palate.

A few tips to keep in mind when making your granita;
* Granitas tend to melt rather quickly, you can chill your serving dish or cup prior to serving.
* Fork Fluffing ;)  .... fluffing with a fork gives it the snow like consistency. 

* Watermelon Jasmine Granita:

 ~Sweet, juicy watermelon paired with the aromatic, floral  jasmine green tea~

Watermelon said to be first introduced among the Hopi's. Revered for it's therapeutic health benefits, watermelon is said to help the weak and ill and one who is recovering from surgery. Watermelon is said to give energy and strength, especially useful for elderly people. Watermelon is said to flush acid from the system and cleanse and renew the blood.

Jasmine Green tea is a scented green tea, rich in antioxidants. Jasmine tea can help protect your body against damage from free radicals.

Jasmine green tea has aromatherapy benefits due to fragrance of jasmine. The fragrance of jasmine tea has calming and soothing effect. The odor of this tea has anti-anxiety effects and is said to be effective than the medications used for treating anxiety.

• Drinking jasmine green tea can boost immune system, prevent allergies and avoids tooth decay.
• Jasmine green tea contains antibacterial properties that helps to kill harmful bacterias like those causing food poisoning and promotes growth of useful bacterias for digestion.
• Gargling with jasmine green tea helps in preventing viral infections like influenza.
• Consuming jasmine green tea can help in avoiding health problems like cholera, dysentery, gastric ulcers, etc. 

Click here to order your Jasmine Green tea

Watermelon-Jasmine Granita

* Watermelon  Jasmine Granita: (we used organic ingredients and raw sugar. These provide more minerals and vitamins with NO toxic pesticides)

*  2- 1/2 cups  organic watermelon
*  1/4 cup  raw sugar or org. sweetener's like agave may be used
*  1 Tbsp. Fresh squeezed lime juice
*  1/2  cup jasmine green tea

Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour mixture into a 9x9  metal baking pan. Freeze for an hour, then stir and fluff the mixture with a fork. The mixture will be slush like.  Cover, place back into freezer and for 1-2 hours.  Using a fork with create more icy flakes.
**Make you set a timer for the 1st hour, if you leave it longer it will become a solid block**

* Strawberry Ceylon -Rose Granita:

~A flavorful infusion of fresh strawberries with our Ceylon Rose Tea~

Strawberries have been noted for their high content of minerals and vitamins. Strawberries are high in potassium, a key mineral in successfully controlling high blood pressure problems. Strawberries contain the naturally occurring substance Ellagic acid.  Properties of ellagic acid  directly inhibit the DNA binding of certain carcinogens. Ellagic acid may play a role in decreasing cancer.

Strawberries are also rich in Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and phosphorus. These vitamins and minerals are key to keeping bones and teeth firm, keeping the heart and skin healthy. Strawberries are exceptionally high in trace minerals. Trace minerals are vital for many body functions but extremely important to the glandular's (pineals, thyroid, thymus and adrenals

Strawberries are said to help improve weak vision. The juice eliminates toxins circulating in the blood.

Ceylon Tea:

Ceylon tea was born as the result of a coffee blight in the country that led to tea being introduced as a replacement crop.

 Ceylon Tea contains powerful antioxidants, vitamins that are an important reason to start your day drinking this tea!

Ceylon tea contains poly phenols which give this drink its antioxidant properties. Regular drinking of Ceylon tea may lower the risk of developing cancer, prevents high blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attack, strengthens the immune system and helps reduce stress and anxiety.

  Click here order your Ceylon Rose tea

Strawberry Ceylon Granita

* Strawberry Ceylon -Rose Granita: (we used organic ingredients and organic raw sugar, these provide more minerals and vitamins with NO toxic pesticides)

*  2- 1/2 cups  organic strawberries
*  1/4 cup  raw sugar or org. sweetener's like agave
*  1 Tbsp. org. Vanilla extract
*  2/3  cup Ceylon Rose tea

Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour mixture into a 9x9  metal baking pan. Freeze for an hour, then stir and fluff the mixture with a fork. The mixture will be slush like.  Cover, place back into freezer and for 1-2 hours.  Using a fork with create more icy flakes.
**Make you set a timer for the 1st hour, if you leave it longer it will become a solid block**

* Sparkling Mojito: 

~White tea infused with fresh Lime & mint~

The mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail. A mojito is traditionally made of five ingredients: spearmint, rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime, and carbonated water. The drink gets its name from the African word mojo, which means "to cast a spell".

White tea: One of the main health benefits of white tea is that this tea is packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are power packed compounds that help to combat and reduce free radicals, which are capable of causing damage to the skin cells and the body. White tea is also said to boost the immune system and is said to also have mild antibacterial and antiviral properties.

White tea is rich in fluoride. Fluoride helps in preventing tooth decay, as it replaces the lost calcium and forms even stronger bonds in the tooth, preventing cavities from occurring.

Click here to order your White tea

Sparkling Mojito Granita

Sparkling Mojito Granita: 

~White tea infused with fresh Lime & mint~

  (we used organic ingredients and organic raw sugar, these provide more minerals and vitamins with NO toxic pesticides)

*  1- cup White Tea
*  2 TBS.  raw sugar or org. sweetener's like agave
*  1 Juice and Zest of a fresh Lime
*  1/4 Fresh Mint leaves, off stem and chopped

Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour mixture into a 9x9  metal baking pan. Freeze for an hour, then stir and fluff the mixture with a fork. The mixture will be slush like.  Cover, place back into freezer and for 1-2 hours.  Using a fork with create more icy flakes.
**Make you set a timer for the 1st hour, if you leave it longer it will become a solid block**

Happy Granita making!