Traditional tea came to Ukraine relatively recently. But herbal teas were known to our ancestors back in the Middle Ages. Each family had its own recipes for useful herbal infusions, which were known not only to the healers and medicine men of that time. Healing recipes were passed down from generation to generation, and they are preserved and supplemented today.
A little history
In the 17th century, black tea, familiar to us, began to be imported to Ukraine. The tradition of its consumption was introduced by Empress Catherine II, but since this new-fangled drink was expensive, as was the sugar served with it, the novelty did not gain much popularity. The people considered tea to be an insanely expensive and luxurious drink of gentlemen and spendthrifts.
Ordinary people had never heard of black tea, but continued to drink dried fruit compote and a drink infused with the leaves of the Ivan-tea herb. There was even an opinion that tea, like tobacco, was a sinful thing. Although the official position of the church did not prohibit tea per se, excessive indulgence in fashion, gluttony, and love of luxury were condemned.
And only at the beginning of the 19th century did Ukraine begin to join the tea culture and form its own traditions. Kiev tea ceremonies became a popular type of feast in the capital, which turned into any holiday of that time. Bagels and rich white rolls were served with tea, which is described in detail in his works by Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky, who loved to talk about the meals of Kievans. Often such tea parties turned into long gatherings, tea was replaced by a bottle of vodka and traditional snacks, and calm conversations turned into singing and dancing. It was since then that tea parties became a kind of ritual of hospitality. People invited each other "for tea", savoring not only delicious treats, but also pleasant communication.
A century later, tea finally migrated from the drinks of the nobility to the table of every Ukrainian home, becoming an absolutely traditional and familiar drink for both holidays and everyday life. However, black tea could not replace the old and beloved recipes of fruit, berry and herbal teas. On the contrary, it diversified them: traditional mixtures began to be infused with black or green tea, acquiring all new flavors.
In winter, hot vitamin teas are incredibly popular. They are prepared with berries, fruits and herbs and become ideal drinks for long winter evenings. Firstly, they warm up quickly, secondly, they contain an incredible amount of vitamins, which are so necessary for us especially in winter, and thirdly, they are easy and quick to prepare. In addition, you can enhance the warming effect by adding a little rum, cognac, whiskey or liqueur to such tea. Of course, the latter option is suitable only for adults.
There are several ways to prepare berry and fruit teas. If the tea base is water, you can simply pour boiling water over the tea and let it steep for 5-7 minutes. If the base is juice, you will have to heat the tea without bringing it to a boil to preserve most of the vitamins.
It is best to brew and serve such tea in a transparent glass teapot to fully enjoy not only its taste, but also all the warm colors of your favorite drink. If the tea contains berries with seeds or leaf tea, it will be convenient to use a French press, which will immediately strain the drink. And tea with apples, pears or citrus fruits can be brewed directly in a cup, from which you can drink it, eating them at the end of the tea party.
Pear tea "Princess Jasmine"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 100 g pear, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 lime slice, 1 pinch of jasmine tea leaves, 200 ml of boiling water.
Preparation method: finely chop the pear and mash it into a puree. Brew jasmine tea and add lime juice, pear puree and cinnamon. Let it steep for 10-15 minutes.
Sea buckthorn tea with apple "Vitamin"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 40 g fresh or freshly frozen sea buckthorn, 30 g apple (quarter), 1/2-1 tsp honey, 250 ml water.
Preparation method: finely chop the apple. Place the sea buckthorn, apple and honey in a prepared container, pour cold water and heat for 15-20 minutes over low heat, without bringing to a boil. Then let it brew for 3-5 minutes.
Apple tea "Zbiten"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 150 ml apple juice, 1/2 cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, 1 clove bud, 1 slice of apple.
Preparation method: Place all ingredients in a container and place over low heat. Boil for 2-3 minutes, without bringing to a boil. Then pour into a serving container and let steep for 5-7 minutes.
Green citrus tea "Oriental freshness"
Ingredients (for 1-2 servings): 70 ml orange juice, 70 ml hot green tea, 2 grapefruit slices, 1 tsp maple syrup (can be replaced with any other syrup to taste), 1 tbsp. lemongrass syrup (or any other citrus syrup), 1 sprig of fresh mint, 3 cardamom seeds, 150 ml hot water.
Preparation method: all ingredients except grapefruit should be heated in a copper kettle, but not brought to a boil. Before serving the tea, grapefruit slices should be squeezed and placed in a cup.
Tea "Pomegranate Bracelet"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 100 ml of pomegranate juice, 30 g of apple (quarter), 1.5 tsp. honey, 1 strip of lemon zest, 150-200 ml of hot water, pomegranate seeds and apple slices for decoration.
Preparation method: cut the apple into strips and the lemon zest into thin strips. Heat all ingredients without bringing to a boil. For a spectacular serving, use a glass. Strain the drink into it and garnish the tea with pomegranate seeds and apple slices.
Berry tea "Memories of Summer"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 1-2 strawberries, 3-4 blueberries, 1 blackberry, 2 raspberries, 1-1.5 tsp. sugar, 1 tbsp. applesauce (can be replaced with any fruit puree), 1 tsp. flower honey, 200 ml of hot water.
Preparation method: place fresh or thawed berries in a large glass, add fruit puree, sugar and honey, mash the mixture with a spoon. Pour boiling water over the resulting mass, stir, cover and let it brew for 3-5 minutes.
Lingonberry tea with cranberries and mint "Health"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 70 g lingonberries (fresh or freshly frozen), 30 g cranberries (fresh or freshly frozen), 2 tbsp. honey, 3-4 fresh mint leaves, 300 ml hot water.
Preparation method: Grind the berries with honey, add hot water and boil for a couple of minutes, without bringing to a boil. Add mint leaves before serving.
Tea "Pumpkin Passion"
Ingredients (for 2-3 servings): 300 g pumpkin puree, 50 g strawberry puree, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 25 g ginger, 1 grapefruit slice, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 pinch of ground hot red pepper, 25 g ginger root, 200 ml hot water.
Preparation method: grate the ginger on a fine grater, place all the ingredients in a teapot, pour boiling water over it, cover and let it steep for 5 minutes, then pour into cups.
Hot Chili Tea
Ingredients (for 2 servings): 2 tsp black tea, 60 g apple, cut into pieces (half), 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 pod of hot red pepper, 3 lemon slices, 2-3 cloves, 3 tsp honey (can be replaced with cane sugar), 400 ml of hot water.
Preparation method: place all ingredients in a teapot, pour boiling water over it, cover, let it steep for 3-5 minutes, then pour into cups.
Blackcurrant tea "Basil"
Ingredients (for 5 servings): 150 g freshly frozen blackcurrants, 75 g sugar, 1 large bunch of purple basil, quarter of a lime, 1 liter of hot water.
Preparation method: basil leaves must be separated from the branches and placed in a teapot for brewing, leaving a couple of leaves for decoration. Then add blackcurrant berries and sugar, mash them so that the berries give juice. Pour hot water (T = 75-80 ° C). Let it brew for 7 minutes. Pour the finished tea into cups and squeeze a lime slice into each, decorate with basil leaves.
Fruit tea "New Year's mood"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 1 pinch of fruit tea leaves, 2 pinches of dry hibiscus tea, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, fruit to taste, 200 ml of hot boiled water.
Preparation method: pour hot, but not boiling, water over the fruit tea and hibiscus and leave for 3-4 minutes. It will be spectacular to serve it in a mulled wine glass, to which you need to add anise and cinnamon. If desired and to taste, you can supplement the drink with chopped fruit.
Ginger tea with sea buckthorn "Grace"
Ingredients (for 1 serving): 5 g of ginger root, 100 g of frozen sea buckthorn, 1 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. passion fruit syrup (or any other syrup to taste), 1 sprig of mint, berry jam (to taste), 180 ml of hot water.
Preparation method: Finely chop the ginger. It is best to prepare this tea in a French press. To do this, place sea buckthorn, ginger, honey, syrup and mint in it, pour boiling water over the listed ingredients and leave to infuse for 5-7 minutes. Then pour into cups and serve with berry jam.
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