FLORAL TEA ICE CUBES

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• ice cube tray
• water
• your favorite tea (tea bags or loose leaf)! Check out Sips By teas to pick your favorite
• organic edible flowers

How to make Floral Ice Cubes

Making these ice cubes is incredibly simple. Start by pouring your water into a pot and heating it to a boil. Four cups of water should be more than sufficient to fill most ice cube trays. Once the water is boiling, remove it from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. Transferring the pot to the freezer can help expedite the cooling process.

Once the water has cooled, return the pot to the stove and bring it back to a boil. Once the water has come to a boil for the second time, remove it from heat again. This double-boiling process helps to ensure that the ice cubes will be glassy and transparent instead of cloudy or milky in appearance, making it easier to see the gorgeous flowers!

Depending on the type of tea you are using, you can add a proportionate amount of tea to the water while it is still at boiling temperature or wait for the water to come down to the appropriate temperature before steeping. Steep the tea according to directions and then strain/discard the tea bags.

Allow the brewed tea to cool. While the tea is cooling, prepare the edible flowers by snipping off their stems right below the base of each flower. Rinse the flowers and then carefully place one in each well of your ice cube tray. Using your fingers or a toothpick, position the flowers so that they are upside down in each well (the petals are facing down).

Then, pour the tea over the flowers and place the tray in the freezer for at least 4 hours and at most 10 hours. It's ok if some of the flowers float around and don't remain upside down! This will make the ice cubes look more interesting.

Be careful not to let the flowers stay in the freezer for too long as they will begin to discolor. When you're ready to serve the floral tea ice cubes, simply remove them from the tray and place them in your teas or drinks as a beautiful and flavorful garnish. Flowers in ice cubes make all drinks look so appealing. Follow this easy recipe to make flower ice cubes and enjoy!