My Two Favorite Tea’s

I wanted to start by saying that you can do this at home!  Over the past few months, I have been enjoying two delicious types of teas.  Let me share these wonderful flavors with you.

Pineapple Tea

First, we were buying pineapple tea bags, until a friend from here showed me how to make it from the fruit.  Rinse your pineapple and then cut off the peel/skin.  Cut up your pineapple as normal, but save the core.  Instead of throwing the peel/skin and core away, put it in a pot with water.  Heat to boil and enjoy!  This tea is so flavorful and delicious, no added sugar is necessary.

Lemon Grass Tea

Here is our lemon grass plant: 

All that we need to do is cut off a few pieces and put them into water.  Heat to boil and enjoy!  Most Nicaraguans add a bit of sugar and drink this when they have a cold.  I prefer it without sugar and drink it all the time.  One warning – I believe that our lemon grass plants may vary from those in the states, so make sure that your plant is good for drinking.

And while we on the theme of tea.  I thought I would send a little shout out to my friends and ladies at Options Care Centre in South Africa who make cards out of teabags.  This income generating project uses recycled teabags in their artwork, along with the actual tea leafs.  They do amazing work and I was blessed to work alongside them back in 2005 and 2006. 

My mom and I have been selling their cards at the Jubilee Sale (handmade, fair trade sale) in Minneapolis/St. Paul for the past few years.  I have been sad to miss out on the sale while I am away, but for all of you in the Twin City area, make sure to head out to the Jubilee sale in November.  Actually you don’t need even to live in Minneapolis/St. Paul area, I promise it is worth the drive and/or flight!  All of your holiday shopping done in one day, and the money goes to great causes.