The blood orange is a culinary favorite, with its deep vibrant color and sweet, tangy flavor. A perfect ingredient for a refreshing herbal blend! This naturally sweet, caffeine-free tea pairs blood orange peels with hibiscus flowers and rose hips. Rich, hearty and tangy, with a good balance of orange peel dryness and fruit juiciness.
The blood orange is a variety of orange (Citrus sinensis) with crimson, almost-blood-colored flesh. The fruit is smaller than an average orange; its skin is usually pitted, but can be smooth. The distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of pigments common to many flowers and fruit, but uncommon in citrus fruits. The flesh develops its characteristic maroon color when the fruit develops with low temperatures during the night. Sometimes there is dark coloring on the exterior of the rind as well, depending on the variety of blood orange. The skin can also be more tough and harder to peel than other oranges.
Fruit teas are best when they are given generous portions and long steeping times. If the tea is too tangy for your tastes, try adding a pinch of sugar or a splash of lemonade. In general, making iced requires making a concentrate which you pour over ice. The Whistling Kettle also offers specific iced tea brewers that can be found on our website.
Hot tea brewing method: Place 1.5 to 2 teaspoons per cup (and add 1 teaspoon for the pot) into the teapot. Pour boiling water into pot and let it steep for 3-7 minutes (or longer - the longer the steeping time to more intense the flavor becomes). Pour into your cup and add sugar to taste. **do not add milk - the milk will curdle due to the ingredients in this blend.
Iced tea-brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 12-15 teaspoons of Paradiso Peach into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5-10 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
