Easy Iced Tea Recipes
Click below to open a pdf of our two quick and easy iced tea recipes, with tips for making the best iced tea.
How to make Iced Tea. Quick and Easy
Prince of Wales tea – how it got its name
Prince of Wales Tea – history, tea and places…
HISTORY OF PRINCES
“Prince of Wales” may now be synonymous with Prince Charles, son of Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip. Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the throne of England is said to be the 21st Prince of Wales.
The title however dates back centuries …
The last Welsh ruler to hold the title was Llywelyn Ap Iorwerth, bynameLlywelyn The Great (died 1240). This Welsh Prince was said to be the most outstanding native ruler in Wales before English rule began in 1283.
King Edward I of England conquered Wales in between 1277 – 1283, in what is known as the Edwardian conquest of Wales, and in 1301 his son (also Edward) was named Prince of Wales with an investiture at the Welsh Caernarfon Castle. He later became King Edward II.
Granting the highest title of Wales to the heir of the British throne further inflamed matters between the Welsh and English yet the title Prince of Wales has continued for the English heir apparent, including the current Prince Charles. It is noted that during the 17th and 18th Centuries eight princes granted the title did not even set foot in Wales! Queen Elizabeth II hoped that by sending Princes Charles to live in Wales and study at their University prior to his investiture, would ease this historic contempt.
TEA ORIGINS
Whilst this title is “steeped” in history… pardon the pun, the “Prince of Wales TEA” was derived for the 20th bearer of the Prince of Wales title in 1920. Son of King George V and Queen Mary he became King Edward VIII, the shortest reigning monarch in British history (326 days). He abdicated in 1936, due to his love of twice divorced American Wallis Simpson. His younger brother Albert “Bertie” became King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II).
And, in case you are wondering, the son of Prince Charles, William is not currently a Prince of Wales but is likely to be granted the title upon Prince Charles becoming the King. The title is not a birthright even if the first born son is destined for the throne of England.
PLACES BEARING THAT NAME
With, all that monarchy history said, and the understanding the origins of the name of the tea, it should be mentioned that name “Prince of Wales” has also been granted to many landmarks and establishments in every State of Australia. Off the coast of Queensland, the largest island in the Torres Strait bears this name, as well as a small rural township some 2182 km from Brisbane with a population of about 109.
In Tasmania we have the Prince of Wales Bay, on the western shores of the River Derwent, approximately 10km upriver from Hobart, and 2 pubs with the name; one in Battery Point, Hobart and the other in Evandale, a small historic township not far from Launceston.
A common name it seems for a hotel or a pub. Every State has at least one Prince of Wales hotel, namely in Brisbane (QLD), Bunbury (WA), Newcastle (NSW), St Kilda (VIC), Nundah (QLD), Gulgong (NSW), Proserpine (QLD), Penola (SA), Wagga Wagga (NSW), Adelaide (SA). Neither Territory appears to claim a Prince of Wales establishment though.
ART OF TEA’S LOVE OF PRINCE OF WALES
Prince of Wales Tea has been the Art of Tea owner, Samantha Brown, favourite brew for well over a decade. Not a single day goes by without a brew of this black tea steeped, not only in history, but a silver teapot purchased from the Portobello Road Market in London in a trip back to her birth country, a couple of decades ago!
Here is a painting Samantha’s mum did of this teapot back in 2012:
The Art of Tea version of Prince of Wales tea would vary from that very original recipe, and like all tea purveyors, we like to keep our recipes a little secret.
But we can say that our blend has high grade tea leaves from several estates in China and also Sri Lanka, making it a medium weight blend, with a rounded finish and not too heavy on the tannins due to the full leaves.
If you love our very popular Tasmanian Breakfast, you will also love the Prince of Wales tea!
What are the effects of caffeine?
Since it is a stimulant, caffeine increases alertness and quickness of response, and often can briefly improve mood. It is also known as a mild diuretic. In large doses, it can produce jitters, anxiety, and insomnia. As with any stimulant, the period of enhanced alertness and heightened mood is generally followed by a period of depressed mood and ability.
People are affected by caffeine differently.
Can tea help weight loss?
Tea is well known, researched and documented regarding its range of health benefits. But can it help with weight loss? With our “COVID Curves” and “COVID Kilos” on our lips, or should I say hips, we are looking now to shed the extra weight gained in the last 18 months.
The art of tea has always had a range of green teas, including the Tasmanian grown green tea! Our favourite Tasmanian green tea blend is with Tasmanian raspberries, making for a delicately sweet brew but without the guilt of sugar. The perfect substitute for lollies and sweet biscuits https://www.artoftea.com.au/product/green-tea/spring-sencha/
We also have our 100% organic Slimming Aid. This herbal mix is a blend of oolong, dandelion root, alfalfa, lemon balm, nettle and Australian Lemon Myrtle. We love that this can help curb your appetite and can be helpful in reducing fluid retention and may increase your liver function and improve your metabolism. https://www.artoftea.com.au/product/herbal/slimming-aid/.
So does tea help weight loss? We checked out some other articles for you to read to outline why oolong, green tea and herbs such as alfalfa can help you.
Oolong and weight loss?: https://rb.gy/njg4wx
Oolong versus green tea in weight loss? https://rb.gy/9mkkqr
Green tea and weight loss?: https://rb.gy/ypvcba
How dandelion, ginger, licorice, ginger may also help weight loss? https://rb.gy/r3saai
Also check out our Organic Licorice and Peppermint, Organic Lemongrass and Ginger, Energy Boost and Dandelion Chai blends, to name a few that may really help your metabolism, improve hydration, and provide a healthy alternative to coffee and biscuits.
Tea – the way to boost your health and aid weight loss goals!
Rooibos – is it really better than tea?
Rooibos – a powerhouse beverage for your health!
Rooibos (pronounced “Roy-boss”, with a roll of your “r’s if you feel inclined), is a plant grown solely in South Africa and is not related to the traditional tea plant (Camellia sinensis), yet we brew it just like tea. Known in Afrikaans as “red-bush” it is widely consumed in South Africa and has become increasingly popular in Australia.
The naturally caffeine-free plant Aspalathus linearis, is packed with many antioxidants and some specific ones that have been shown in studies to fight cancer, be anti-inflammatory, and protect blood cells from radiation.
Rooibos is very low in tannins and no oxalic acid, which in turn is easier on the gut than traditional tea and is suitable for people prone to kidney stones. Tannins in black tea have been shown to prevent the absorption of iron, especially non-heme iron from plant sources. Rooibos is therefore a better choice of drink if a person has an iron deficiency.
Micro-nutrients iron, zinc, copper and manganese are part of the rooibos leaf and studies have shown that low levels of these minerals are associated with anxiety and depression. Calcium and magnesium are well known to increase bone strength, both of which are also found in rooibos.
Rooibos is well reported to the super-rich in a group of polyphenols called flavonoids. These powerful antioxidants have been reported as providing many significant health benefits. The types of polyphenols in rooibos are different from those found in abundance in green and black tea, so their health benefits would differ.
Quercetin and Luteolin flavonoids found in rooibos are really potent antioxidants. Lab studies indicate these antioxidants can force cancer cells to undergo programmed cell death. They may also act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents.
Another 2 flavonoids in rooibos Orientin and Rutin — were shown to protect human blood cells exposed to radiation from cancer-associated changes. In animal studies, orientin prevented oxidative damage to the liver and reduced damage to the bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. Rutin may also help strengthen capillary walls.
Specifically, and only found in rooibos is Aspalathin. This makes up between 4-12% of the plant! Aspalathin has been shown to possess biological activity that imparts it with multiple health beneficial effects. These include antioxidant, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, antihypertensive and antimutagenic effects. Given its multiplicity of biological effects, aspalathin is a natural phytochemical and drinking rooibos should be promoted.
In summary, rooibos is a plant that we brew like tea, yet is packed beyond its humble appearance, with many potential benefits. We stock organic rooibos and also a range of flavours, including the addition of berries or chai spices. Try this naturally caffeine free beverage and be comforted knowing that it’s truly helping you in your quest for improved health and wellbeing.
To buy our Rooibos – click here Rooibos
To Brew :
- Scoop one teaspoon of dry rooibos leaves, per standard (250ml) cup, into an infuser*.
- Place the infuser into the cup
- Pour in freshly boiled hot water
- Allow to brew for 3 – 5 minutes to get a full flavour (adjust the time according to your preferred strength)
- Lift out the infuser from the cup
- Enjoy your freshly brewed rooibos!
Tips:
If you use a large cup or mug, adjust the “1 teaspoon per 250ml” guide accordingly. A bigger infuser is better for larger mugs or travel cups.
Try not to overfill the infuser, as the water needs to be able to circulate around the leaves
If you choose to add milk, or mylk, to your rooibos– we suggest you add it in after it has been brewed, to ensure you only add as much milk as you like. Cups these days are robust enough not to need to add milk first to stop the china cracking from the heat of the water.
Best Rooibos with milk is our Rooibos Chai Rooibos Chai
Rooibos makes an excellent iced tea and is fantastic for hydration. Try our Rainbow Rooibos. Rainbow Rooibos href=”https://www.artoftea.com.au/product/rooibos/rooberry/”>Rooberry
Our favourite infuser for rooibos is a fine mesh style that fits over most cups and mugs and has a lid to keep the tea warm whilst brewing and a drip saucer to sit in between making cuppas. You can also re-brew rooibos leaves
*Our best-selling infuser is: Mug Infuser Stainless Steel with lid/saucer
How do I make loose leaf tea in a cup?
If you want to explore the joys of drinking loose leaf tea but feel a little apprehensive on HOW to make a good cuppa, don’t fear, this is what you need to do:
Simply:
- Scoop one teaspoon of dry tea leaves, per standard (250ml) cup, into an infuser*.
- Place the infuser into the cup
- Pour in freshly boiled hot water (for black tea and herbals) or (ideally) 80-90oC for green tea,
- Allow to brew for 3 – 5 minutes to get a full flavour (adjust the time according to your preferred strength)
- Lift out the infuser from the cup
- Enjoy your freshly brewed tea!
Tips:
If you use a large cup or mug, adjust the “1 teaspoon per 250ml” guide accordingly. A bigger infuser is better for larger mugs or travel cups.
Try not to overfill the infuser, as the water needs to be able to circulate around the leaves and most leaves will swell.
If you choose to add milk, or mylk, to your black tea – we suggest you add it in after the tea has been brewed, to ensure you only add as much milk as you like. Cups these days are robust enough not to need to add milk first to stop the china cracking from the heat of the water.
Our favourite infuser is the style that fits over most cups and mugs and has a lid to keep the tea warm whilst brewing and a drip saucer to sit in between making cuppas. It’s often fine to reuse leaves – especially good quality tea like from the Art of Tea!
*Our best-selling infuser is: Mug Infuser Stainless Steel with lid/saucer
