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Friday, August 20, 2010

Organic Reishi Pomegranate Iced Tea

8.20.10


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I believe this is the second beverage I have on my blog. I need to post more! With a generous offer from Marx Foods, a top-quality gourmet ingredients provider online, I've received an organic dried reishi mushroom sample to create tea -any kind of tea for the reishi tea challenge. At the end of August, they will make each recipe and pick a winner. I'm excited to be on the challenge. What makes me more excited is that the reishi they sent is organic! After reading about reishi tea on Marxfoods blog, I was intrigued by its health properties: anti-viral, anti-microbial, immune boosting, blood pressure lowering, and a laundry list of other properties. As a traditional Chinese medical veggie, it's healthy but the taste is yikes. It's really bitter but it's really good for you.

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Organic Dried Rieshi Mushrooms

The recipe guide they provided is simple. It's a combination between reishi mushroom and hot water. It's just like when you make tea but let it simmer for 30 mins. Once I tried it, I knew I needed something or a couple things to cut down the bitterness and make the tea more interesting. It's summer. A good tasty iced tea would be nice, don't you think? Iced tea is usually a combination of tea, ice, and lemon. Sugar or cream is your choice and preference. That was the original idea. However, it's too bitter for me to enjoy it with boiled water. I opted to use pomegranate juice instead. In this recipe I used a product from Pom Wonderful.

I finally got a good-tasting recipe from IJLMP's lab kitchen (smile) after a few trials and errors. A star anise makes the tea sweeter and the ginger paired well with pomegranate juice. It also helps for flavor. How is it going to be an iced tea without lemon? Of course, lemon is one of the key components. Hope you like it, Justin!

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Organic Reishi Pomegranate Iced Tea
Yield: 1 (I make it for 1 as it's easier to double up the recipe as you wish to the number you prefer)

Ingredients:
2 tbs or about 10 pieces organic dried reishi mushrooms
1 cup 100% pomegranate juice
1 dried star anise
1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced (about 6 slices)
1 lemon, halved
4 tsp agave nectar
10 iced cubes (depending on a size of your glass)
Mint for garnish

Directions:
  • Add reishi, ginger, star anise, and pomegranate juice in a small saucepan.
  • Bring it to boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer it for about 20 mins or until reishi sinks at the bottom of a saucepan.
  • Remove from the heat. Pour in a glass by using a strainer to discard solid ingredients. Squeeze juice from a half of lemon to a liquid mixture. Add agave nectar.
  • Slice the other half of a lemon. Add 2 slices in a glass. Mix well. Adjust to taste.
  • Add ice to make it full glass. Let it refrigerate for 5 mins. Garnish with mint.
  • Enjoy!



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Bring it to boil


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Let it simmer


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It's refreshing and good for you!


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29 comments:

Tanantha P. said...

Oops sorry for mis-spelling of pomegranate on FoodBuzz!

Unknown said...

Hi Tanantha, What a beautiful colored iced tea and it's good for you too. I've never heard of reishi before so thanks for telling me about something new to try. I think you really put together some nice complimentary flavors in this ice tea, congrats;-)

Anonymous said...

What a unique iced tea with reishi mushrooms! Wonderful blend with pomegranate flavor too!

~Lisa~ said...

OH wow, what a healthy way to make tea. I love the color too (=

Stella said...

This is so pretty, Tanantha, and does sound refreshing while being packed with nutrients. Me likes that;)!
You know, I got some free juice from Pom that I still need to post about (yikes!). Thanks for the reminder. Oh, and I will try this soon. I really need to make organic fungi a larger part of our diets. This is an exceptionally special way to do so too!
p.s. I always misspell 'pomegranate' too-usually!

mysimplefood said...

Interesting. I don't think I have heard of reishi before but nice to know it's packed with health properties. Your photography is great too.

ann low said...

Love the beautiful color of this iced tea...healthy and refreshing.

Lazaro Cooks said...

T,

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And you are worried about making a cocktail? You better just throw some alcohol in there and send it in.

So much to like about this and I don't even drink tea. Love that it is organic, you are my hero.

Can I apply for a job in the IJLMA test kitchen? Just asking!

A+++

Monet said...

You are talented...not only did you make a delicious tea from a mushroom, but you photographed it so beautifully that I wanted to go out and get the ingredients instead of drive to work! Thanks for sharing love...have a great weekend!

Julie M. said...

Wow, this is truly creative! It looks delicious to boot. Have a great weekend!

lequan@luvtoeat said...

Hey Tanantha,

That's one great looking and sounding cup/glass of tea! My oh my, look at the ingredients you put in there. Now that's a tea made with love. I love that you use pomegranate to take away the bitterness. I've never had a pomegranate flavored ice tea before - wonderful! Good luck my dear! Have a wonderful weekend!

Magic of Spice said...

What a fantastic iced tea...The color is stunning.Very beautiful set of flavors you have going on :)

Cook with Madin said...

Hi Tanantha, this is beautiful. Great addition of the ginger and the pomegranate juice. I always learn something new from you, like the matcha tea. I will be buying the Organic Reishi. Thank you for sharing.

Chef Dennis Littley said...

Tamantha
what a great job with the reishi mushrooms....The pomegranate was a stroke of genius! it sounds like you overcame the challenge of the bitter flavors, and came up with a wonderful combination, not only refreshing but very good for you!
congratulation on a challenge well met!

Unknown said...

I would have never thought of mushroom iced tea! I'd love to try it. It sounds reaaally good with the pomegranate. So creative!

Mo said...

I've never heard of reishi before but your iced tea looks lovely and oh-so refreshing! :)

Anonymous said...

I love a good glass of iced tea in the summer. I've never added pomegranate to mine though. Yours looks delicious!

FOODESSA said...

Tanantha...you gave me a new outlook on anise...I would have never thought to mix it with pomegranate...how interesting ;o)

Flavourful wishes,
Claudia

Biren said...

Sounds like you have found a way to make this bitter fungi palatable....very creative too!

Juliana said...

Oh! Never heard of Reishi mushrooms...the pomegranate tea sure looks so refreshing and I love the color :-)

denise @ quickies on the dinner table said...

Wow Tanantha! You must be having some kind of kick ass camera! Your pictures are always gorgeous and razor sharp!

I love the colour of this beautiful and healthful tea. Very original indeed!

Jenn Erickson said...

Congratulations on winning the Marx Foods challenge. My recipe was a runner-up, and having had the experience of working with that unusual ingredient (Reishi Mushrooms) am particularly impressed by your recipe! It sounds marvelous, and it sounds like you managed to brilliantly conquer the dried mushrooms' bitterness. I love the use of star anise and agave syrup! Best, Jenn

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your win! My recipe was a runner up also! I love, love, love pomegranate and cannot wait to try this recipe. Sounds SO refreshing!

Nancy said...

Tanantha Congratulations on the win! The tea is such a beautiful color and it looks like it tastes great. I've never tried the Reishi mushrooms, but I would love to. I love the uniqueness of your recipes, really perfect!

Patrick @ Appetite for Good said...

how awesome! I was just thinking of what i could do with pomegranate!

MindBodySpirit said...

This looks delicious! I love Reishi Tea but it normally is hard to take on the taste buds. I'll definately try this and see how good it really tastes. Holistic Practitioner

Holistic Practitioner said...

This recipe rocks. I couldn't handle the taste, yet I love the way I feel rejuvenated after drinking it. Now I can actually drink it!

Hugo
Natural Healing

s95 said...

What a great idea! Combine two healthy ingredients into one that actually tastes good! Bravo!

Canon s95 said...

Congratulations on winning the Marx Foods challenge.How wonderful.Pomegranate is healthy on its own.But,with reishi mushrooms,it is a plus-plus.I love this combination of iced tea.

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