Sri Lankan tea with coconut sugar
Sri Lankan Tea with Coconut Sugar
*Quick dessert, a simple and comforting recipe, perfect for bringing a touch of exoticism to your everyday life.*
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Infusion time: 5 minutes
Number of servings: 2
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of Sri Lankan tea (black or green)
- 500 ml hot water
- 2 cubes of coconut sugar (or to taste)
- Milk (optional)
Adventure in the world of Sri Lankan tea
Imagine a cool morning, with the fresh mountain air and green tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see. This is the atmosphere that Sri Lanka offers, a country blessed with amazing biodiversity and ancient tea traditions. When you visit tea plantations, you will discover how the leaves are carefully harvested, and the tea-making process will surely fascinate you.
About coconut sugar
Coconut sugar, an ingredient that has gained popularity due to its fine caramel taste and nutritional benefits, is derived from the sap of coconut tree flowers. It is a healthier alternative to refined sugar, having a lower glycemic index, making it an ideal choice for those looking to reduce their white sugar intake. Additionally, coconut sugar contains minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins, making it a more nutritious option.
Step by step: Preparing Sri Lankan tea
1. Boil the water: Start by bringing the water to a boil. High-quality water is essential for a delicious tea, so make sure to use filtered or spring water.
2. Add the tea: Once the water has boiled, pour it into a teapot or directly into two cups. Add the two tablespoons of Sri Lankan tea. If you are using tea bags, they are just as effective.
3. Infusion: Let the tea steep for 5 minutes. During this time, the rich aroma of the tea will begin to unfold. If you prefer a stronger tea, you can let it steep a bit longer, but be careful not to leave it too long, or it will become bitter.
4. Dissolving the coconut sugar: While waiting for the tea to steep, take the coconut sugar cubes. You can choose to dissolve them in your mouth directly to experience its natural sweetness and flavor, or you can add them directly to the hot tea.
5. Serve: After the tea has steeped, pour it into cups and, if desired, add milk for a creamy touch. Stir well and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
This Sri Lankan tea with coconut sugar is perfect to be enjoyed alongside crispy cookies or nut cakes. Additionally, a slice of carrot cake or a fruit loaf can make an excellent combination. If you want to try a more exotic variation, add a bit of freshly grated ginger or a slice of lemon to the tea to enhance its flavor.
Nutritional benefits
This recipe is not only delicious but also full of benefits. Black or green tea is rich in antioxidants, which help combat free radicals in the body. Coconut sugar, as mentioned earlier, is a healthier choice, providing essential minerals and having a lower impact on blood sugar levels.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I use other types of tea?
Yes, you can experiment with various types of tea, including flavored teas or green tea. Each type will add a distinctive note.
2. Where can I find coconut sugar?
Coconut sugar is available in most health food stores or in the international products sections of supermarkets.
3. What other drinks can I make with coconut sugar?
Coconut sugar can be used to sweeten coffee, smoothies, or even desserts. It is a fantastic choice for sweetening hot or cold beverages.
Possible variations
If you want to experiment with the recipe, try adding spices like cardamom, cinnamon, or cloves to achieve a more complex flavor. Each spice will add a new dimension to the tea and transform each cup into a true sensory experience.
Personal note
My favorite memory related to this tea is the moment I enjoyed a cup of Sri Lankan tea on the terrace of a plantation, with a spectacular view of the tea-covered mountains. It was a perfect break, an opportunity to reflect on the beauty of nature and the simple delights of life. I encourage you to create these moments of relaxation too, savoring a cup of Sri Lankan tea with coconut sugar, and enjoying every sip.
Now that you have all the necessary information, it's time to get started and bring home the charm of Sri Lanka with this simple yet flavorful recipe!
Ingredients: Sri Lanka is a wonderful country that impresses you with its lush flora diversity. Exotic plants, tropical forests, rice paddies, dream orchids, tropical fruit plantations, and not least the famous Ceylon tea plantations delight your eyes and soul. On the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, the banana plantations gradually become rarer, and the road winds among hills and then mountains completely covered by tea plantations of an unreal shade of green. We stopped at the Glenloch tea plantation and factory, where we were familiarized with the processing and grading of tea. The tea leaves are harvested manually due to the rugged terrain that does not allow the use of machinery; it is exhausting work, paid according to the amount of leaves picked. Then we were served fresh tea on a terrace overlooking the tea plantation. The clean mountain air perfectly complemented with a cup of pure Ceylon tea! Additionally, from the plantation shop, you can buy home-produced tea: black, green, white, and with various flavors: lemon, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, rum. At the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, we were greeted with bitter tea and coconut sugar. The coconut sugar cube melts in your mouth, and then you drink the tea, feeling that it is sweetened. Coconut sugar is obtained from the sap collected from the inflorescences of the coconut tree and has been used for thousands of years in South and Southeast Asia, in countries where the coconut tree grows abundantly. Farmers make an incision in the coconut inflorescence, slightly tilt the coconut tree, tying two trees together with cables, and the sap that starts to flow is collected in special bamboo containers. The obtained sap is boiled over low heat in giant woks until the liquid evaporates, resulting in a syrup, which is then further concentrated until crystals or blocks of sugar are obtained. Coconut sugar is almost as sweet as brown sugar but has a fine caramel flavor. Since coconut sugar is unrefined, its color, sweetness, and flavor vary. Coconut sugar has a low glycemic index and is healthier than white sugar. It is also rich in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6; the iron content is 36 times higher than that of brown sugar. It can be used as a sugar substitute for patients with diabetes. On the road from Nuwara Eliya to Bentota, we bought coconut sugar traditionally wrapped in dried coconut leaves. In Sri Lanka, traditionally, tea is an infusion of leaves and is consumed very sweet, usually with milk. We need: - Sri Lankan tea - hot water - coconut sugar - milk (optional)
