A plea for iced tea: Mumbai chefs give us their best summer-friendly tea recipes

When talking about beverages in India, it is hard to not talk about tea. While some boast of it being an emotion, others simply enjoy the beverages for the calm and warmth they bring along with it - one that can't be compromised on during any season. However, the summer makes it difficult to sip on anything hot - even if it is as small as a ‘cutting chai'. Those hankering for their daily fix of the beverage can consider the merits of iced tea. While we catered to cold coffee lovers last week, this time around we have somethingfor those who love tea.

It is the perfect season right now to experiment with various styles of chilled tea that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. City chefs and mixologists shared handpicked recipes with Mid-day Online for those who can't live without their tea and are willing to experiment as they deal with the searing heat.

Basil Watermelon Ice tea by Allan D'souza, bartender, Someplace Else, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East)
At the newly-opened Someplace Else, in-house bartender Allan D'souza not only experiments with his cocktails but also with his mocktails. Building on the country's love for tea, D'souza uses iced tea to make a delicious concoction coupled with basil and watermelon. The tea-based drink is refreshing because of its fruit and mint flavours.

Ingredients:
Iced Tea - 90 ml, watermelon juice - 60 ml, lime juice - 30 ml, sugar syrup - 25 ml.

Method:
1. Pour the ice tea into a glass.
2. Add watermelon juice, lime juice and sugar syrup.
3. Shake and serve in a highball glass.

Allan D'souza at Someplace Else uses iced tea to make a delicious concoction with basil and watermelon. Photo Courtesy: Someplace Else

Passiflora by Montoli Sema, mixologist, Dashanzi, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Juhu
Why wait for chilled iced tea when you can freshly brew it? Montoli Sema innovates with a fresh brew of black tea to create this delicious non-alcoholic cooler. Combining the concentrate of the beverage with summer ingredients, Sema makes Passiflora, which is not only a quick option but also doesn't require too much preparation time. She shares, "The comforting aroma of freshly brewed black tea along with tangy passion fruit purée, perfectly blended with lime juice and honey water makes this a sweet summer drink."

Ingredients:
Freshly brewed black tea as per requirement, passion fruit purée - 45 ml, Lime juice (25 ml), honey water - 30 ml.

Method:
1. First, brew the black tea and keep aside.
2. Puree the passion fruit, squeeze the lime juice and keep the honey water ready.
3. Put the tea into a glass, add the puree, lime juice and honey water to it.
4. Shake them together with ice.
5. Serve chilled.

The iced tea at The St Regis Mumbai pays tribute to the Vietnamese Snow Shan tea , which has the sweet taste of honey and flowers. Photo Courtesy: The St Regis Mumbai

Aromatic Indulge by Kailash Kamble, assistant food and beverage manager, The St. Regis Mumbai, Lower Parel
The iced tea at St Regis Mumbai pays tribute to the Vietnamese Snow Shan tea , which has the sweet taste of honey and flowers. For Aromatic Indulge, Kailash Kamble says the five-star property uses an infusion of Snow Shan tea and mixes it with apple juice and aquafaba, along with edible flowers. For those who like a fancy cup of tea with a floral touch, this may just be the one to experiment with.

Ingredients:
Apple juice - 60 ml, Snow Shan tea infusion - 45 ml, aquafaba - 15 ml.

Method:
1. Combine apple juice, Snow Shan tea infusion and aquafaba in a shaker.
2. Give it a good shake and empty it in a wine glass.
3. Garnish with edible flowers and serve.

Shishir Rane combines one's love for tea with summer flavours like the kala khatta to create a delicious concoction. Photo Courtesy: The Chocolate Spoon Company

Kala Khatta Iced Tea by Shishir Rane, VP - Beverages and Strategy, The Chocolate Spoon Company
At The Chocolate Spoon Company, Shishir Rane combines your love for tea and the summer to create a lip-smacking Kala Khatta Iced Tea. While the two together may seem like something you never imagined before, it is certainly one that is tried, tested and proven to be good by Rane. He says, "The blend of kala khatta and iced tea is not known. While one takes you back to your childhood summer days, the latter is full of antioxidants and makes for a sassy combination."

Ingredients:
Tea concoction - 120 ml, in-house sweet and sour mix or any sweet and sour mix - 30 ml, kala khatta syrup - 30 ml.

Method:
1. Combine the tea concoction, sweet and sour mix and kala khatta syrup.
2. Mix them in a tall glass filled with Ice.
3. Add a garnish of a fresh lime wedge and serve chilled.

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