Afternoon tea not only helps you banish fatigue and hunger halfway through the day but is also a beloved social ritual. Gathering with a few friends to enjoy tea and snacks strengthens bonds between individuals. When afternoon tea first became popular in England, robust black tea was the favorite, often served with milk and sugar.
Over time, coffee also found its place in the lineup, particularly popular in the United States. A cup of coffee in the afternoon both refreshes and satisfies hunger. Besides these classic beverages, afternoon tea has diversified, offering a wide range of drink possibilities. For instance, these six beverages are excellent choices for entertaining guests and are also easy to prepare.
Vienna Chocolate
The preparation of this beverage may seem a bit complex, but in fact, all the ingredients used are commonly found in every household. The flavor and appearance of Vienna Chocolate are excellent, making it perfect for entertaining guests.
Combine three heaping tablespoonfuls of grated chocolate with cold water to form a paste. Pour the paste into a double boiler along with four cups of hot milk. Sweeten to taste with sugar and simmer for five minutes. Beat the whites of two eggs until stiff peaks form, then place them into individual cups. Stir a teaspoonful of vanilla into the chocolate mixture after removing it from the heat. Slowly pour the hot chocolate over the beaten egg whites, stirring constantly with a silver spoon or wooden stick. This creates a delightful, frothy chocolate drink. Alternatively, packaged cocoa can be used instead of grated chocolate.
Lemonade
Lemon drinks are always the most classic; their taste is refreshing and healthy, loved by everyone. It’s also simple to make.
Select the finest lemons and roll them until they’re nice and soft. Squeeze out the juice using a glass lemon squeezer, making sure to remove any seeds and pulp. Rub sugar over the lemon peel to extract the oil, then add it to the lemon juice. Fill a glass pitcher one-third full of crushed ice, pour the lemon juice over the ice, and add granulated sugar and water to taste.
Iced Tea
Iced tea is actually made similarly to lemonade, except that water is replaced with tea, usually using Ceylon black tea. However, the strong aroma and slightly bitter taste of black tea, combined with the acidity of lemon and white sugar, make iced tea a classic afternoon beverage. It was English unexpectedly found that adding white sugar and lemon to hot black tea resulted in a delicious flavor. Then American started to add some ice, and you’ve got a refreshing drink.
Prepare tea as instructed above, but use two or three extra teaspoonfuls of tea for added strength. Fill a glass pitcher halfway with crushed ice, then pour the scalding hot tea over the ice, ensuring the stream hits the ice directly and not the pitcher. Serve with sugar and slices of lemon. These days, there’s a wide variety of flavors for iced tea. People can choose green tea or oolong tea to make it.
Pineapple Drink
The taste of pineapple is already very pleasant, making it into a drink is even better. The unique aroma and sweetness of pineapple serve as natural flavor enhancers, making a pineapple beverage perfect for a hot summer afternoon.
In a bowl, combine the juice of three lemons, two seeded and sliced oranges, one grated pineapple, and one cup of sugar. Allow the mixture to sit for an hour to extract the juice, then strain it through a fruit press. Add cold water to the juice as desired, along with two shredded pineapple slices. Pour the mixture into glasses filled halfway with cracked ice.
Raspberry Drink
In many parts of the United States, raspberries are widely produced, making them one of everyone’s favorite fruits. Raspberries are rich in nutritional value and flavor. If you happen to have them at home, why not try making a beautiful red-colored beverage?
Crush and strain two cups of currants (with stems removed) along with an equal amount of raspberries. Mix the juices, sweeten to your liking, and serve in glasses with cracked ice and chilled water.
Honey Passion fruit Drink
Passion fruit is hailed as the king of fruits because of its rich flavor and high nutritional value. Using it to make beverages is the best choice, given its natural fragrance and sweet-sour taste. Mixed with honey, it creates the perfect nutritious drink. What’s best is that this beverage is very healthy.
Prepare two passion fruits, and extract the juice and pulp. Add honey according to your taste preference. After mixing the passion fruit with honey, you can fill it up with warm water or add some ice cubes. If you have lemons or kumquats at home, adding a few slices will enhance the flavor even more. The natural orange-yellow color of passion fruit is the best pigment, which can whet your appetite.
Putting a little extra effort into making some unique beverages not only surprises your guests but also benefits you as the creator of these delicious treats. The delightful taste experience on your palate might brighten your mood for the rest of the day or even several days.