Strawberry and juniper is one of the more unusual fruit teas, the juniper giving it an almost gin-like, piney edge against the sweet dried strawberry. It is caffeine-free and brews on a full rolling boil, the same as any fruit infusion.
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for the How to Brew Strawberry and Juniper Tea recipe. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/fruit-tea/how-to-brew-strawberry-and-juniper-tea/
Two things lift it above the basic cup. Crush a couple of juniper berries into the mug alongside the temple to push the botanical note further, and hook a half-slice of lemon over the rim as it cools; the citrus oil sharpens the resinous juniper nicely. It is good hot, and arguably better poured over ice, where the juniper reads brighter.
You'll need
- 1 Teapigs Strawberry and Juniper tea temple
- 250ml freshly drawn water, brought to a true rolling boil
- 2 juniper berries, gently crushed with the back of a spoon
- 1 half-slice of fresh lemon, for the rim
- 1 warmed 300ml mug
Method
- Warm the mug by filling it with hot tap water for one minute, then pour the water away.
- Drop the Teapigs Strawberry and Juniper temple into the warmed mug. Add the 2 gently crushed juniper berries.
- Bring the 250ml of freshly drawn water to a true rolling boil in a kettle.
- Pour the rolling-boiling water straight over the temple and the crushed juniper berries.
- Cover the mug with a small saucer and steep for six full minutes. The longer steep is needed because the fruit pieces and juniper berries in the temple release their flavour slowly compared with a leaf-tea infusion.
- After six minutes, lift the temple out with the back of a teaspoon. Do not press the temple, pressing would push tannin from the dried strawberry pieces into the cup and turn the finish slightly drying.
- Hook a half-slice of fresh lemon over the rim of the mug, so the lemon oil sits just above the surface of the tea as the cup cools.
- Drink hot, or pour over a tall tumbler of cubed ice for a chilled summer build. The juniper note is brighter cold.
- Storage and second cup: the same temple will not give a strong second cup, fruit infusions extract once at rolling boil. Brew a fresh temple if you want a second cup.
- No sugar build: the natural fruit sweetness of the strawberry pieces is the headline note, no added sugar is needed for the cup to land sweet.
Want the background, not just the brew?
Brewed with: Teapigs Strawberry and Juniper, 15 Tea Bags 37.5g
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