Gogi Ice Tea

Hello Friends! Guess what I am really digging this week?

Honestly I can't believe I'm even saying this (the sweet tea gods be damned), but I'm really digging Gogi Berry Ice Tea.

Confession: I use to be totally addicted to ice cold sweet tea.

I mean does anything feel as good a grabbing an ice cold glass with a fresh squeeze of lemon on a sweltering hot summer day...okay maybe besides a dip in the ocean!?!

Hell, I can't hear a bluesy song without thinking of sweet tea and a plate of BBQ with a little fried okra. Blame it on my southern roots I guess (Although I'm pretty sure my folks enjoyed a good swig of corn liquor over a cold glass of sweet tea or fresh mountain spring water, but hey)

So what's this Gogi business I speak of?  You're probably thinking oh, jeez...here we go again just another wellness junkie touting some obscure food I'll never really get into. Simmer down and stay with me. It's not like I'm talking salads and smoothie bowls over here.

I've had a handsomely sized bag of dried Organic Gogi Berries sitting in my pantry for months. I'm not really sure how they got there. I most likely bought them for a recipe I never really ended-up making. Until this week. When I stumbled into these little superfoods while organizing the pantry and just like that the muses tapped me and I was reminded of an easy recipe that would put these berries to work and have me reaping their health benefits in no time. Gogi Iced Tea!

All I know is I wish I had started adding this tea to my refreshment rotation sooner!!! From the moment this tea passes the lips you'll be blown away by how similar it is to traditional black leaf ice tea, but oddly better. Gogi Ice Tea possesses enough snazzy character and fruity notes to stand on its own sans sugar without the brown paper bag water taste I've often associated with unsweetened traditional ice tea. Anytime, I can happen upon a food or beverage that's naturally sweet I'm all in especially when it's as fun as Gogi Ice Tea.

It's the perfect hydrating refreshment your body will thank you for!

The Benefits:

• Naturally increases energy, athletic performance, and focus without caffeine. (1)
• Liver loving tonic. Gogi's help protect the liver; one of your bodies most important detox organs/pathways.
• Loaded with B vitamins (B1, B2, B6) which help convert food into energy.
• Contains 21 Trace minerals including Iron, Zinc, and Selenium.
• Supports immune function.
• Boost fertility. Supports ovulation and sperm health.

The Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Organic Gogi Berries
• 64 ounces Spring Water

Instructions:

• In a glass jar or container add Organic Gogi Berries to Spring Water.
• Soak at room temperature for 2-4 hours according to your taste.
• Strain tea through fine mesh strainer to separate the berries from the tea (a nut milk bag will work here also).
• Set aside berries for use in your favorite smoothie or discard.
• Chill in fridge. Serve over ice with fresh lemon and enjoy.

Serving Suggestions: Feel free to experiment by adding fresh fruit slices to the tea after straining out the berries. I think fresh peach slices would go nicely. :)

Recipe by Olivia Steinberg Certified Health Coach and founder of Your Balanced Plate