At the end of last summer, I got the idea to make an Earl Grey tea "slushy" and spent a fair amount of time working out a recipe for it. Then the weather got cool and I set the idea aside in favor of hot tea and the coziness of my favorite season. The idea of a tea slushy seems to be seasonal for me, because it was just this past week that the idea came to me to try it again.

Last year, I was experimenting with making ice cubes out of the tea itself to use, but this year I opted for a much simpler approach, using regular ice cubes and tea rather than milk as the primary liquid. I think this method is much better.

Here's my method:

1. Brew a very strong batch of Earl Grey tea. This is best done by using a greater quantity of tea rather than a longer steep time, which yields bitter tea. I used an organic loose-leaf tea from the health food store, which is more affordable than using tea bags for this purpose. The ratio I've settled on for this is two heaping teaspoons of tea per cup of boiling water. While the tea is steeping, stir in 2 Tablespoons of sugar per cup of water. This is very sweet, too sweet to drink, but just about right for the slushy. What this makes is a tea concentrate. Allow to cool completely.

2. Put 1 cup of ice in a blender, and cover with the cooled tea concentrate. Blend until thick and slushy. With the motor running, add 1/4 cup milk of choice. (Whole milk, half and half, almond milk, etc.) Blend until combined.

3. Pour into cup, and enjoy.

Let me know if you try it!

Also "brewing" here (hee!), I have some projects planned! My sister is due with her second baby any week now, and I need to knit a little something for him (it's a him!). I also bought yarn for autumn sweaters for my crew. This was all made easier by a gift certificate I'd been saving, as well as a little bit of gift yarn. I'm super excited about all of my planned knits, as well as a few other planned projects, such as a little collection of Alicia's kits that I've never started but am so excited to finally get to, and also some Jesse Tree plans that I've had on my mind for literally years. It is so good to have things in the works.

uncommon grace