by Tea Master DANIELA CUBELIC

Meet a sassy, zesty, refreshing popsicle. This recipe is unbelievably easy to make & kid-friendly, but it can also be spiked with tequila, vodka, rum or your favourite spirit.

I invented this recipe when I wanted to create a gourmet popsicle that tastes & looks luscious, (but without the use of any dyes or colours) & that uses simple, easy to find ingredients. I succeeded beyond my expectations by using the most basic juices that you can find at any grocery or corner store & since I released it over a decade ago, this recipe has turned into a hugely popular fan favourite.

It features our Earl Green Tea, which is a twist on Imperial Earl Grey—it's made with bergamot which is the characteristic flavour of this tea, but we use green tea leaves instead of the classic, which is made with black tea leaves.

The recipe creates a dazzling pink popsicle as a result of combining this particular tea (which brews a colour similar to white wine), with grapefruit & cranberry juice.

If you don’t happen to have both of these juices on hand, you can just use one, or sub in lemonade, orange juice or pomegranate. You can also make this recipe with classic Imperial Earl Grey. The darker colour of black tea will turn the popsicle an amber hue. A change in juices will also impact the colour, making it more red or golden. But the flavours blend together very nicely & all the combinations are very delish!

Tea popsicles are very easy to make, & popular with all ages. If you don’t have popsicle molds at home, purchase popsicle sticks (which most grocery stores carry). Pour the tea popsicle mixture into ice cube trays or small shooter glasses. Cover the top with foil & then cut slit(s) into the foil in about the center of each ice cube or shooter glass, so that it helps the popsicle stick stay upright. If using a shooter glass, when the popsicle is ready to eat, remove from fridge & leave on counter at room temperature for about 15 minutes, so it will easily separate from the glass. Or, rinse glass with cool water for a few minutes & it will separate from glass.

Homemade Tea Popsicles are a decadent tasting treat, & when they are homemade with our fresh, high quality, organic tea they can be rich in antioxidants & nutrients that are good for you. Plus, you get to control the quantities of sugar & they don’t contain artificial flavours, dyes & preservatives. As always, our recipes are dairy & gluten-free.

Healthy Tip Accompanying this food item with the same tea used in the recipe (hot, iced, or as a tea latte) can enhance the enjoyment of all the flavours, as it adds a layer of complimentary flavour, which amplifies & brightens the taste of all the ingredients. Tea is also a delicious, low-calorie, healthy alternative to alcohol or sugary drinks. 

As well, when you’re eating carbs or sweets, it can also be a great idea to reach for teas that help counteract these effects. 

Mulberry tea has been used in Asian traditional medicine for hundreds of years as a way to support blood sugar balance & assist weight management. Studies are starting to support these ideas, & are finding that the mulberry can help block carbohydrate absorption.

Detox tea may be an even better choice when having rich or higher-fat foods, as well as carbs & sweets, as the herbs in it were traditionally consumed to counteract all three of these.

Accompanying treats or rich foods with a cup of Detox or Mulberry tea, or having these teas half an hour or an hour after eating, may be a healthier & smarter way to indulge.

We love seeing what you're making! ⁠Share & tag your Silk Road recipes with the hashtag #SilkRoadCommuniTEA - you’ll find us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER & PINTEREST.

Get inspired with more tips, techniques & recipes - watch & learn directly from Tea Master Daniela Cubelic in this captivating VIDEO SERIES.

Learn how to make chai tea soup, tea hot chocolates, mulled cider teas, tea infused oatmeal, ice cream tea floats, tea lemonades, iced teas & more. You’ll also discover fascinating facts & info about the health benefits of tea, tea history & secrets for tea brewing.

EARL PINK TEA POPSICLE

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons Earl Green tea
2 cups water
1 cup grapefruit juice
1 cup cranberry juice
optional:

- 3 tablespoons of sugar or other sweetener (You don't need to add any sugar, or you can adjust this amount depending on how sweet or tart you'd like it. In addition to sweetening the flavour, the addition of sugar changes the texture of a popsicle so that it becomes sorbet-like. If no sugar is added, the texture is more ice cube like.) 

- 1–2 oz of your favourite spirit. Please note that adding alcohol can reduce the ability of the popsicle to freeze. If you add too much, it may never freeze & become more slushie-like in texture… which also happens to be quite tasty, so if you want to go that route, don’t pour into popsicle molds, just put in the freezer in a pitcher. Depending on how frozen you want the texture to be, & how cold your freezer is, it may be ready to consume in about an hour.

DIRECTIONS

1. Brew 2 tablespoons of Earl Green tea in 2 cups of water just before the boil. Steep for 3 min. Strain tea into a heatproof jug & stir in sugar (if you are using any). Then refrigerate until cold.

2. Add 1 cup grapefruit juice & 1 cup cranberry juice to cold tea. If adding alcohol, stir it in with the juices. Then pour into a popsicle mold, ice cube trays or shooter glasses & freeze.