Silky Iced Bengal Spice Latte

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Happy weekend, everyone! I can't believe that there is only one week to go until school begins; I had better get a list of wholesome packed lunches together! Today, my parents and I went clothes shopping, and for a change, I actually found an awful lot of items that I like. This made my mother happy, as I'm typically hard to shop with and for. Meanwhile, my little sister is having a splash at a water park with her best friend, Hailey. Hailey is the sweetest kid on the planet, and is incredibly pretty; she has the most pale skin, and this gorgeous, curly, white-blonde hair. I'm hoping that Hailey is wearing a TON of sunscreen at the moment, because it is almost ninety degrees in our neck of the woods!

The scorching days of summer call for swimsuits, watermelon, sunglasses, and cool beverages. When I was younger, my dad would make Abby and I 'Kid-itos,' which were pretty much mojitos without the rum. They were delicious, and the mint leaves he used for garnish were so refreshing under the blazing sun. On special occasions, we would indulge in an Italian soda from a local cafe, or sip on glasses of rich Mango Lassi. In short, for our family, cold drinks are a big part of what makes summer, well... summer!

Now, over the past year or so, I have become rather obsessed with tea. I drink wayyyy too much of it - in fact, my habit got so bad that my dentist advised me to lay off the drink, or else my teeth would stain! Luckily, I've found a balance between enjoying a mug and maintaining my dental hygiene. Green, black, rooibos, white, herbal tea... I love all of it. Currently, however, I am especially enamored with Celestial Seasonings' Bengal Spice tea.

Celestial Seasonings is a brand you may see every weekend on the supermarket shelves. Located in Boulder, Colorado, I've actually had the opportunity to go on tours of the company, and love it more and more with each visit. Just the smell of all of the dried flowers and herbs is enough to win anyone over. I also admire the steps Celestial Seasonings takes to give back to the environment and source its ingredients responsibly. Over the years, my family has enjoyed many different teas blended by Celestial Seasonings: from Sleepytime and Vanilla Rooibos to Black Cherry Berry and Caramel Apple Dream, every flavor has been scrumptious! As I've mentioned, however, I am currently in love with the Bengal Spice variety. Very much in love.

Summertime is boiling, and hot drinks are, too. But why should I have to part ways with my darling tea just because of the weather? My hero at the moment is the ice cube, because it's allowed me to enjoy teas of all kinds throughout these months of sunscreen and barbecues. Today, I am so excited to share with you a simple, yet mouthwatering recipe: my Silky Iced Bengal Spice Latte. Here we go!

Silky Iced Bengal Spice Latte - Serves 1
Ingredients
  • One Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Herbal Teabag, or a similar chai
  • 8 oz. hot water
  • A splash of heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2-1 Tbsp. monk fruit (if you aren't Primal, honey is a fine substitution)
  • Plenty of ice!
Execution
Begin by filling a kettle with eight ounces of water. Heat until boiling. If you have a coffee machine, such as a Keurig, lucky you! Press the medium cup button for eight ounces. Pour the hot water over your Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Herbal Teabag, and brew for eight minutes. When your timer has gone off, add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of monk fruit or a substitute sweetener to the tea, as well as a generous splash of heavy whipping cream. For my dairy-free friends, almond milk will suffice (or, if you are Stephen Colbert, almond sweat). Stir well. Add plenty of ice to your beverage until sufficiently cooled. Enjoy with a reusable straw, or no straw at all - let's save the turtles, everyone!

 Enjoy the remainder of these sun-filled days!
- Maya

Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash, Photo by Maya Epstein,
Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash, Photo by Maya Epstein

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