Refreshing Mint Delight
We call it After Dinner Mint Tisane (Herbal Tea) because it contains Spearmint, Peppermint, and Licorice, three herbs which help with digestion and make your stomach happy as well as your taste buds. 
However, after dinner is by no means the only time this light and refreshing tisane may be enjoyed. We especially love it iced on long, hot summer afternoons. You can either brew it the traditional way, then put it in the fridge, or you can make it as sun tea, then ice it. Either way our After Dinner Mint Tisane is a delicious and refreshing stomach soothing beverage hot or cold.
For a cool tart treat any time of day, try this “min-tea” smoothie:
What to use…
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1/2 frozen banana
2 T loose After Dinner Mint Tisane
8 oz water
fresh mint leaves (optional)
…and how
1. Boil water, pour over loose tisane and steep for 5 minutes. (Alternately, make sun tea by placing loose tisane and cold water in a glass container in direct sunlight for several hours.) You may want to make extra tea for drinking.
2. Strain tisane and refrigerate until cool.
3. Place frozen fruit, ice and chilled tisane in a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve immediately. Makes about 2 cups.
Harness the Power of Sunshine: Make Sun Tea!
The days are longer now, and since it finally stopped raining, my deck is getting long hours of sunshine and that’s making me think of sun tea. Herbal tea steeped in the sun is one of my favorite summertime treats. Although many tea companies make specific tea bags for use in sun tea, you don’t actually need special tea. I prefer herbal varieties of fair-trade tea like Allison’s tins of Rooibos Earl Grey and After Dinner Mint Tisanes. I find that black or green teas become bitter when made this way.
Making sun tea is simple. Fill a large glass jar with cold water and 6-8 fair-trade tea bags or the loose leaf equivalent. 
Secure the lid of the jar tightly and place it in direct sunlight for several hours, shaking once or twice. I usually start sun tea in the morning and leave it in the sun all day. If it’s too strong you can always dilute it. Somehow it feels like the power of the sun filters into the tea and makes it especially delicious. After your tea has steeped, strain out tea bags or loose tea leaves, dilute and sweeten to taste, then place in the refrigerator or add ice to chill. Sip and Enjoy!
Sip a Sweet Springtime Treat
Looking for a sweet treat that won’t expand your waistline? Believe it or not, iced tea is one of my favorite warm-weather treats. It’s cool, sweet and refreshing, and, if you use herbal tea and stevia, it’s not sugary or caffeinated. We have several delicious fair-trade teas and tisanes (herbal teas) here at Allison’s, but my favorite flavor right now is our Rooibos Chai. I brew it in the evenings in quart jars, put it in the fridge over night, add a splash of nut milk and a few drops of stevia and bring it to work with me. It’s spicy and refreshing to sip on all day, plus, it curbs my sweet tooth and helps me stay hydrated. I also love that my glass jars or stainless steel bottles are more sustainable than store-bought glass or plastic ones, and my homemade, fair-trade tea tastes better than store-bought, too!