Raspberry Herbal Tea Popsicles, made from a tea leaf, raspberry leaves and the raspberry fruit, makes for a refreshing summertime popsicle.
What Are Popsicles?
Popsicles, my British hubby asked? What planet are you from, I replied! “But I didn’t grow up with popsicles, having been schooled in boarding schools in Kenya, so I don’t know what they are”.
Oh my, I thought, a childhood without popsicles, so I explained. Fruits, juices, yogurt or just about anything you might enjoy to sip on, can be frozen into a mold with a stick to hold it and enjoy on a hot summer day.
Popsicle Molds
There are so many types of plastic or silicone popsicle molds that make it easy to pour, freeze and pop out a few hours later.
Many types of popsicle molds come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Often they come with a plastic handle with build in drip tray to catch the melted goodies to sip from the tray.
I Dont Have A Popsicle Mold
When I was a kid, back in the 50’s, we didn’t have popsicle molds, at least not that were sold for the home. We did, however, find a great way to make our own.
Paper cups, back then only Dixie paper cups were available. Pouring our juice or chocolate milk into the paper cups, putting them into the freezer, was the way we did it. The moment they started to get slushy, or slightly frozen, we’d pop a stick in the middle and let it continue to freeze.
Unhealthy Popsicles
The first popsicles I ever knew, were unhealthy popsicles.
We were so ‘uninformed’ back when I was a kid, about health.
Sugar, water and dye is what our popsicles from the store were made of. Yuk!
Popsicles were colorful, often staining the lips and tongue (eww, dye). Of course, they were cold on a hot summer day and sweet, but zero element of nutrition.
Healthy Popsicles
Once I became a mom, I fast became the health guru in my family.
I figured out how to give my children all the yummy things kids love to eat, but make them healthy, which also happened to be when I created Spanakopita muffins!
Fresh fruit got pureed and frozen into popsicles.
Yogurt with fruit got frozen into popsicles.
Chocolate almond milk, made from Homemade Almond Milk got frozen into popsicles.
The kids loved them and I didn’t have to worry about sugar overload because they were naturally sweetened.
Grownup Popsicles
Just because we are adults, doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the treats we loved as a kid.
We just need to make them taste… well, more ‘grown-up’!
Have coffee leftover in your coffee pot?
Fix it the way you like your coffee and freeze it in popsicle molds.
How about that favorite cocktail or wine spritzer you like; use the same ingredients, less alcohol, alcohol doesn’t freeze solid, freeze it into a popsicle.
You might love my Gin and Tonic Sorbet Shooters, a kind of mini popsicle!
Tea Time Popsicles
Who doesn’t love a cup of tea! Whether it’s a dark, caffeinated tea or a light and refreshing herbal tea, it makes for a lovely popsicle.
Simple make a pot of tea, flavored it the way you like with a sweetener of your choice, milk if you like, then freeze it in popsicle molds.
Perfect for summertime afternoons.
I’m loving the teas from my friend at Luvafoodie, sent to me to try.
Raspberry Tea
Raspberry tea? Isn’t that just fruit juice?
Nope! Leaves of the raspberry plant, when simmered in water, makes for a very healthful tea.
Healthy tea made with leaves from the raspberry plant along with a little of the raspberry fruit, makes for a delicious tea with lots of healthful properties, especially for women.
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Like most leaves that are used to make tea, raspberry leaves have the healthful properties of antioxidants, and other vitamins, C being one of them.
Dried raspberry leaves can be purchased through a health food store, or you can make your own.
Find a friend who grows raspberries, or ask a farmers market who sells fresh raspberries if you can pick some of their leaves.
More than likely they don’t have a need for the leaves and will gladly give them to you.
Trust me, I do this often when I want grape leaves for my stuffed grape leaves recipes.
Lay the leaves out to dry, crush the dried leaves and then store them in an airtight container to use as you want.
Raspberry Tea For Women’s Health
No, I wasn’t a hippie back in the 60’s, but yes I was fascinated with natural, organic health care.
Raspberry leaves contain a plant alkaloid known as fragerine, as well as a natural astringent, which has been known to aid in uterus health.
These properties help to relax over tense uterus muscles. This aid can be helpful in childbearing, or simply menstrual cramping.
How To Make Raspberry Tea Popsicles
If you have access to home grown raspberries, simply simmer a handful of raspberry leaves with a little of the fruit. Sweeten as you like, cool and pour into popsicle molds to freeze.
A good quality raspberry tea can also be purchased, such as the one I have used here, even though I do have my own raspberry plants. Steep the tea for 10-minutes, sweeten as you like, pour into popsicle molds and freeze.
Other Popsicles To Love
- Comfort A Cold Wellness Popsicles – are all about the citrus, ginger, chili peppers, honey, herbs a little booze to comfort throat and cough.
- Garden Lavender and Blueberry Popsicles – with almond milk sweetened with bee’s honey that drinks from these edible flowers.
- Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicles – in the middle of a hot summer day, instead of your usual coffee or tea time pick-me-up!
- Mocha Latte Popsicles – because iced coffee, a milk of choice and chocolate simply scream ‘lazy days of summer’!
- Blueberry And Yogurt Popsicles – Homemade popsicles are easy, so Let’s Make Blueberry Yogurt Frozen Fruit Popsicles, with 4-ingredients; blueberries, yogurt, lemon and agave!
Ingredients Needed
- Water
- Raspberry Tea – or black tea with raspberry leaves and fruit
- Honey – or sweetener of your choice
- Lemon peel – optional
Equipment Needed
- 2 quart sauce pan
- Spoon
- Strainer
- Popsicle mold – or disposable cups and wooden sticks
- Popsicle sticks – if a built-in stick doesn’t come with the mold
- Stovetop, burner or electric tea kettle
Raspberry Herbal Tea Popsicles
Equipment
- Saucepan or kettle
- Strainer
- Popsicle mold
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups Water
- 1 large Raspberry tea bag
- 2 tbsp Honey or preferred sweetener
- 1 sliver Lemon peel optional
Instructions
- Boil the water in an electric tea kettle or a pot on top of the stove. Place the tea bags and lemon peel into the boiled water. Allow to steep 10-minutes. Strain/remove the tea and lemon peel. Add honey or preferred sweetener. Cool completely.
- Transfer the cooled tea to the popsicle molds. Place the tops on if they have a top, sticks in and place in the freezer for at least 4-hours.
- Remove, wrap individually so the popsicle mold is free for other flavors.
Notes
- If you have access to fresh raspberry leaves, a delicious and healthy tea can be made with the leaves, a few raspberries and an added black tea if caffeine is desired. Simmer, strain, and follow the instructions above.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.