Chamomile, Grapefruit and Thyme Pot

teas.co.uk · 12 min · Serves 2

You'll need

• 2 Good Earth Chamomile and Grapefruit tea bags
• 500ml freshly drawn water (used at 95C, off boil and stood 30 seconds)
• 1 unwaxed pink grapefruit (half segmented into the pot, half sliced into thin rounds for the serving cups)
• 1 thin coin of fresh ginger root, peeled, about 5mm thick
• 2 small fresh thyme sprigs, bruised between the palms
• 2 tbsp acacia honey or raw blossom honey
• 1 small teapot of 600ml to 800ml capacity, pre warmed
• 2 small ceramic teacups
• 1 small jug of warm whole milk on the side (optional, for anyone who wants it)

Method

1. Fill the kettle, bring it to a true rolling boil, then take it off the heat and let it stand for thirty seconds to drop to 95C. Camomile leaf wants the off boil temperature.
2. Pre warm the small teapot by filling with some of the just boiled water, swirling, and tipping away.
3. Segment half the pink grapefruit by slicing off the peel and pith with a sharp knife, then cutting between the membranes to release the fruit segments. Drop the segments into the pre warmed pot.
4. Add the thin coin of fresh ginger root, the two bruised thyme sprigs and the 2 Good Earth Chamomile and Grapefruit bags to the pot.
5. Pour the 500ml of 95C water (cooled from the thirty second stand) over the bags, the fruit and the herbs in the pot.
6. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of acacia honey while the brew is still hot, until fully dissolved. Hot liquid dissolves honey cleanly.
7. Cover the pot with its lid and steep for seven full minutes. The longer than cup steep is needed because the leaf load, the volume and the fresh fruit infusion all want the extra time.
8. After seven minutes, lift the tea bags from the pot with a teaspoon, do not press, and discard. Leave the fruit segments, the ginger coin and the thyme sprigs in the pot for the service.
9. Pour the brew into the two small teacups through a small sieve, lifting a few grapefruit segments and a thyme sprig into each cup as you go. Slide a thin grapefruit round onto the rim of each cup.
10. Bring the cups to the table on a small tray with the optional small jug of warm whole milk on the side. Serve straight away in the small ceramic cups; the cup is drunk slowly in small sips across the late evening hour.

Recipe: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/camomile tea/chamomile grapefruit and thyme pot/