It Is Tea Time In Israel
It is late afternoon in the desert and you are exploring all the awesome ruins and other sites in Israel. Finally someone calls out, “Will you join us for tea?” It is tea time, in Israel!
Not only do you have some of the finest local black, green, and white tea, but check out those herbal tea options. Herbal teas are a real favorite throughout the Middle East, and Israel is no exception. Throughout the market place are many different fruit teas, made from the leaves of the local trees. There is nothing quite like a fresh cup of tea made from the leaves of the seller’s very own tree. Usually a few pieces of fruit float to the top. This is a tea lovers paradise. It is tea time in Israel!
When you are looking for tea leaves on the fruit trees, go for the youngest leaves. They make the best tea. And of course, never skin your fruit tree. You simply take a few leaves here and a few there. If you are wanting to dry them for use later, then do a simple triple wash. Watch the back of the leaf for bugs. You can either put the washed leaves in the food dryer at 135 degrees or leave out in the sun if you are in a dry climate. Make sure the leaves are completely dry and then put in the tea can. You can also just pick enough fresh leaves for the pot and brew the tea with freshly washed leaves. What a delight it is to make tea fresh from the garden. It is tea time, in Israel!
When you wander the market place you will see many herbal teas. One of these teas is Rose tea. There are many different roses and they all have rose hips. Some roses, like tea roses, produce only a few large blooms at a time. They bloom for months. Other rose bushes, like the climbers, have a lot of blooms. They only bloom twice a year. Another blessing about the rose, is that both the petal and the hips are edible. Rose Hip tea is delicious. It is tea time in Israel!
Rose hips are very small. It is the apple like fruit that grows under the rose. When the flowers begin to fall off the hips turn kind of red. When left on the stem of the plant, they become winter food for wildlife. Now you have another plus for having your small rose garden. They are nutritious! And the tea that comes from them is magnificent.
Another favorite of the market place is mint. Mint has a pleasant aroma and the taste is awesome. Fresh mint tea can be served either hot or cold. Mint tea is often used as an antioxidant. It is also used to help indigestion. Mint is an easy herb to grow and you can take several cuttings a year from each organic plant in the garden. It is best kept in large pots, as it will take over the garden. Wash leaves and either dry as above or take a handful of fresh leaves and add to a large strainer in the tea-pot. Add 2-4 cups of water. Let seep 5-10 minutes. Please join us for a cup of Mint tea. It is tea time in Israel!
Another favorite in Israel is Hibiscus Tea. Hibiscus flowers are in almost every market in Israel. This is a colorful tea and very good. It can be served either hot or cold. It is made using the dried hibiscus flowers. Jamaica, as it is usually called, can be easily made at home. Hibiscus grows most places and you simply save the spent flowers and dry completely. To make tea, rinse 3 cups of dried flowers. Add to a large pot with 2 quarts of boiling water. Seep for 10 minutes and strain through cheesecloth into the pitcher. Add honey to taste. You can add mint, fresh vanilla or chopped vanilla bean , the juice of one lemon, or grated fresh Ginger root. Use any option that sounds good or come up with your own combination. It is tea time, in Israel.
With so many options, and these are just a few of the many possibilities, this is a tea lover’s paradise. There is always a nice warm cup of tea, just a minute away. So grab your passport and join us in the Holy Land. It is tea time in Israel!
This is also an authorized post on seemit under @exploretraveler at: https://steemit.com/treanding/@exploretraveler
