SENIOR LADY: TRY OUT TEA CONCENTRATE!

MY PINEAPPLE SAGE BUSH

Although, I love coffee, I do drink black tea in the summer.

Hot coffee was not an option in the afternoons. I could not sit 

on my porch drinking a hot beverage when the weather was

 over 90 degrees!

I had a friend who loved tea. I asked her advice on which

 tea was good for a beginner.  She took me to the mall 

to visit her favorite tea shop. I was impressed because

there was several types of loose tea in decanters. 

Black tea was my favorite after drinking samples of teas.

I bought a cute tea pot that had angels on it. A cute baggie 

of black tea was also purchased.

I still had a dilemma. I didn't want to ride to the mall for tea

 every day. That tea was too expensive for me too buy often.

I settled for organic black tea from a nearby market. Making 

several glasses of tea from single serving tea bags was tedious.

I didn't like tea in gallon jugs from the grocery store. The market

 near my house only had family size tea bags.  

I got the idea to make tea concentrate in a mason jar. I only like

unsweetened tea. A gallon jug took up too much space in my fridge.

I decided to brew 4 family size bags of black tea. I let the tea steep 

and come room temperature. I filled up a 24 ounce recycled pickle

 jar and placed it in the fridge. 

The next time I made concentrate, I recycled one of my Mom's

 empty instant tea jars.

The black tea concentrate usually last a couple weeks in my fridge. 

I add mint or pineapple sage leaves from my garden to the tea

concentrate occasionally. 

TIPS :

*   Other types of tea may work as a concentrate ( Green tea, Chai, Flavored teas)

*   Orange & Lemon peels & Cinnamon Stick can be added to taste

*   One serving: 12 oz glass:

1/4 c brewed tea, 8 oz purified water, ice cubes 

 

SENIOR LADY: MAKING ICED CAFE' AU LAIT!

 

I used to shake my head at young people buying

expensive espresso and caramel latte drinks.

I couldn't understand why they waited in 

a long line at coffee shops and bistros.

This summer as been one of the hottest on record

in the city where I live.  I was ordering fast food.

when the take-out food cashier asked me to try 

one of their ice coffee drinks. I asked if they had

 mocha flavor. It was 98 degrees outside, so 

I agreed to try an expensive large mocha ice coffee.

It was delicious and refreshing.  No way,

could I afford to get iced coffee every day.

I noticed that the restaurants or coffee shops

started with brewed unflavored coffee. They

added flavorings like caramel, chocolate,

mocha, and other seasonal flavors per

customer requests.

I went home and experimented with making

 my own flavored iced coffee drinks. They may

not have whipped cream on top, but they tasted

good! 

I noticed that the restaurants or coffee shops

started with brewed unflavored coffee. They

added flavorings like caramel, chocolate,

mint, mocha, and other seasonal flavors per

customer requests.

I love gourmet coffee and have a bin containing 

several flavors. They include Hawaiian Hazelnut, 

Mocha, Georgia Pecan, Caramel Macchiato, 

Snickers, and Jamaica Me Crazy. I also collect  

flavored extracts like rum, brandy, mint, butter, 

and maple. I started out with strong  brewed

 flavored gourmet coffee.  I let the coffee cool before

 adding it to my glass or mug. Ice cubes were added 

and  the coffee was stirred until it was chilled and

 very cold. 

SENIOR LADY ICED COFFEE DRINKS:

Caramel Chocolata

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1 Tablespoon Caramel Ice Cream Topping

I Tablespoon Chocolate Flavored Syrup

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream 

 

Add all ingredients to 16 oz size mug/glass.

Stir until well mixed  and add ice cubes.

Cool & Minty 

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1/8 Teaspoon Pure Mint Extract

2 Packets Raw Sugar

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream

 Add all ingredients to 16 oz size mug/glass.

Stir until well mixed  and add ice cubes.

Tropical Buttered Rum

 

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1/8 Teaspoon Rum extract

1/8 Teaspoon Butter extract

2 Packets  Raw Sugar

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream

Lava Chocolate Sipper

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1 Teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 Packets Raw Sugar

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream

TIPS:

* Adjust recipes to fit your own taste

*Substitute Columbian, Instant Expresso, 

and French Roast Coffees

*Substitute white sugar, brown sugar, artificial sweeteners

* Substitute pieces of chocolate mint flavored candy 4 mint

* Substitute pieces of dark or milk chocolate candy 4 

Caramel Chocolate & Lava Chocolate

*Substitute coffee creamer for cream

*Use Vanilla extract if desire  French Vanilla

I visited a new Garden Center last year.

I requested hot coffee to drink while 

I shopped. The clerk said they only carried 

locally sourced organic cold brew coffee

This stuff was fantastic but strong. I had

a mild case of "coffee jitters." This was 

probably because I drink light to

medium roasted coffee often.

It's relaxing to sit on my porch on a hot

day drinking my own "DIY" ( Do It Yourself)

cold brewed coffee. I hope this blog inspires

others to try to make their own cold brew

or iced coffee.