My new friend Patricia at Tea and Tales has my attention. She not only shares reviews of noteworthy books and tea rooms, but her tea suggestions tease my taste buds. If you haven’t met, I highly recommend you pop by and acquaint yourself with some Tennessee charm.
Last winter I nearly shorted out the old electric oven in our rental home. With too much time on my hands I started drying citrus for teas and potpourri, using the tastier results for the former. Evidently electric ovens at lowest settings create a moisture buildup in the most unfortunate places that can ruin the control panels. Once entirely dried the oven was restored.
However, my present home is equipped with an old gas oven, not a new model with electronic pilots. The oven stays between 115 – 125 degrees (f) whether I utilize it or not. Drying fruits, veggies and teas has become an obsession. On a broiler pan and parchment paper it takes a few days. Granted, a dehydrator is far more efficient, but uses electricity. In a pinch use it anyway (like, for Erin and grand girl’s birthdays, drying 10 pounds of apples into chips in three or four days). It’s also best for more moist items, like pineapple, banana, summer fruits and jerky.
A few years back while my daughter-in-love worked for Teavana, they introduced a fabulous Fig Rose tea – and then promptly discontinued it. Villains. I was hooked. I searched, but haven’t found it. I used the last traces of it last winter and have craved it since. I Googled the original blend, obtained the ingredients and filed it. Until this week.
At Sprouts, my favorite local store (within walking distance for me), I noticed dried figs in the bin section. I passed them by for a few weeks until I spotted a display of dried offerings in the vitamin section – dried hibiscus and rose petals including tiny rose hips. We don’t grow any roses or hibiscus. I’m ecstatic!
Fig Rose Tea Ingredients: Almonds, Apple, Beet Root Pieces, Figs, Hibiscus, Hibiscus Flowers, Pineapple, Rose Petals.
I’ve used sliced, raw almonds successfully and dehydrated the remaining ingredients before, so I got right on it.
The first mix of the main ingredients was only slightly disappointing. I missed the caramel and musky undertones, likely from dried jams. Next week I plan to work with brown sugar and see if I can’t come closer to the original flavor.
I assure you, it’s quite worth the effort! I’ll keep you posted.
Image courtesy Steepster.com
I bet your house smells wonderful! By the way, I love Sprouts too. Ours isn’t within walking distance, but it’s very close to a Target. Highly convenient! 😊
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I thank all Goodness Target is a longer stretch of the legs away – that would be a budget buster for me! Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate all feedback – so far 😀 ❤
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You are too kind! I love this idea! I must find this fig tea! I adore figs!
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If I find it I’ll be sure to give you a heads up! Duplicating teas is trial and error, but so worth it. ❤
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Oh please do. I have rosehips and I’m dehydrating lemons and oranges now!!!❤
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Hmm… a touch of citrus sounds nice too@ I find the trick is to use very small pieces of fig.
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Good to know.
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This is great. Now you can buy your own ingredients and rustle up yours. You might even get something better than the original flavour.
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You can imagine, Sis, the get great satisfaction from making something good and useful from seemingly nothing – everything God gives us. I’m often amazed at how much better things taste and feel after spending prayer, energy and time on what’s often overlooked. Peace, my friend <d
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