As we are Australian, yesterday, along with the rest of the country, we had a barbecue.
I'm pretty sure it's illegal not to.
We went with some friends to a barbecue area in a national park just up the road, and of course we all brought along lots of lovely food and drink, and things to share. As I was poking sticks into the fire, the lovely Tess came up and handed me a tall glass of iced tea.
What a treat. Like a pair of fine wine connoisseurs, we stood there taste testing her fabulous concoction.
"Hmm, a bit more sugar."
"No no, the sweetness is perfect, but perhaps the tea could be a touch stronger."
"What about some ginger."
"How about some alcohol?"
"Wait... how about some chilli?"
We didn't have any chilli on the spot, nor did foraging for it in the national park prove successful, but the ever resourceful Tess did pull a bottle of champagne out of her bag, and it is indeed spot on in iced tea.
This morning though, I remembered what a marvellous idea chilli seemed, and I set about making some Chilli Iced Tea.
In our backyard we have a half dead chilli plant to which I do absolutely nothing, ever, and which reliably produces exceptional chilli crops every year.
To make chilli iced tea you will need some of your own.
Chilli Iced Tea
One pot of strong tea, cooled
Honey or sugar to taste
Mint
Lemon
Chilli, also to taste
Add everything to the pot of cooled tea, and let it sit for several hours. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the mixture over it.
Despite my enthusiasm for the idea, I am very wary of chilli and approached my fancy drink with caution.
I needn't have worried.
Chilli Iced Tea is absolutely delightful.
A treat for the senses, a faultless balance of sweet and fresh, chill and heat, even hours after my last one, my whole mouth is still happy.
I think my tastebuds are having a party.
13 comments:
Ooo! I don't think I would be game. As a garnish it looks brilliant though. Does it really add flavour if it isn't cut?
Jeepers that looks good and chillis scare me! However my hubby loves them, I'm going to show him this, I think it'll be right up his street!
Hazel you big girl!
It is cut, only in half though as I wasn't game to really slice it up and get those seeds into the mix. It just doesn't look as though it's cut in half in the photos.
Laura I just gave some to Neill and he was very unimpressed. He said it was "girly". I think the glass and garnishes were girly, next time I'll man it up and put one of those bazillion scoville chillis in it for him!
I reckon the chilli treatment would work well with iced coffee and chocolate too. We've had chilli-chocolate ice-cream a few times and that is lovely. The contrast between the coldness of the ice-cream and the unexpected "heat" of the chilli is very intriguing.
I like the sound of your friend Tess, who just happens to have a spare bottle of champagne in her bag...
It looks so good, but I am always very careful with chillies.
Mark I thought I was being particularly avant garde with my chilli tea, but just now I googled it and it's all over the place. You can buy chilli chocolate tea here: http://tealeaves.com.au/store/75929-260-Chilli-Chocolate-Tea.
Pity they don't give a bit more of a description of it, I've ordered some and am going to give it a go.
Chilli chocolate ice cream sounds quite perfect... and I have a recipe for chilli chocolate cake that I am dying to try out.
Vrtlarica ana, I am really careful with chilli too, but the more I use them the more confidence I have with adding them to dishes. It doesn't hurt that I have a super producing chilli plant either!
Look delish! Though I am slightly wary of a drink that might require another drink to put out the fire.
That sounds fantastic! I'll have to carefully pick who I can invite over to enjoy it with, though. The other day we were talking about "our wimpy friends" vs our friends who like hot foods. It affects what kind of Christmas canning gifts they receive. :)
Hi Ali,
I will definitely try this one, and maybe serve it alongside a glass of champagne as well! Who said you can't have your cake and eat it?!
Nice Gary, now I can see you should be invitee number one on my dinner party list!
Eliza, I'd definitely err on the wimpy side, more than a hint of chilli and I'm reaching for the yoghurt.
And nicely put Kat, that would make a fabulous byline for the drink!
Hi Ali. Is that a weird variety or are those aloe vera growing separately? Last year I picked up some chilli seed in the end of season sale but consequently sowed them too late. The flowers were nice though!
Hey Mal, it is aloe vera, the chilli plant is not much more than three brown twigs sticking up around the aloe where it can!
Hi Ali, I'm sure it is illegal not to have a bbq on a. day (lol) but it should be compulsory to have it outside in wonderful natural surroundings like you did. The chili tea sounds very interesting, a way of getting vitamin c with your tea. I have also heard of chili icecream but haven't tried that either (yet). cheers, cm
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