26 April, 2012

Spring Afternoons (Recipe: Rhubarb Iced Tea)

Spring is finally here. The grass is turning green, we get more rain than snow (mostly), and the rhubarb is poking up in back alleys and side yards everywhere. We are also actually getting some heat. That means cool drinks on the front steps.

Combine the spring rhubarb with sugar and water to make a pretty pink sugar syrup. After that the possibilities are endless.


My son arrived on the first day of spring, so the need to drink this rhubarb iced tea is no coincidence. No, it is a matter of survival. A snack, a book, and a very refreshing cup on caffeine.

Rhubarb Syrup
Makes 2 cups

4 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup water 
1 cup sugar

Combine and bring to a simmer in a medium pot over medium heat. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, strain through a fine mesh sieve, and cool before using.

*Add a knob of ginger or a third of a vanilla bean to ramp up the flavour.

Rhubarb Iced Tea
Makes 4-5 cups

2 cups rhubarb syrup
2-3 cups brewed, cooled iced tea

Combine the syrup and the tea. Add more or less tea depending on how sweet you like your iced tea. Fill a glass with ice and serve. 

For some cocktail ideas and more check out these recipes. I'm saving these for when N is asleep on summer evenings.

12 comments:

Andrea said...

oh wow, that sounds SO yummy! Is there any way to make an unsweetened version of the syrup, like a rhubarb broth...and then I can add my sweetener after?

Dütt un Datt said...

Thanks for sharing those recipes!

You are a nursing mother so make sure, you also try rhubarb cake, dessert, jam... I just made a rhubarb sauce to match vanilla icecream. Yummy!!!!

@Andrea, you might want to try using stevia or meadowsweat instead of sugar.

Live a Colorful Life said...

This sounds so good. I LOVE rhubarb!

CitricSugar said...

Thanks for this recipe! I love rhubarb and am always looking for a good cold summer drink for the patio...

Victoria said...

This sounds delightful! There is always a bounty of rhubarb at the local farmers market every spring/summer... will have to give this a try!

Josie McRazie said...

Can't wait for my Rhubarb to be ready! Sounds yummy!!!

Susan J Barker said...

I so crave rhubarb! I have so little soil to keep a plant that soon I shall go begging everyone I know to donate a few stalks to ease my craving! Must try your recipes as I usually just stew as much of the rhubarb I can get and nibble it for a couple of months from the freezer...

Amanda Jean said...

yum! that sounds so good! i've got a lot of it in my backyard. and since i've been trying not to bake (my hips definitely DON'T need it) this sounds like a great way to use it.

Claire Jain said...

Oh man, I am a tea junkie. I'm usually all unsweet, so this will be a treat! I can't wait to try it :-)

Humble Bee said...

Sounds yummy! I am on my third batch of rhubarb muffins and wish I could share one with you. Too good to be true. I will try your recipe later this week. Love how you said, knob of ginger!
~Becki

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