When I gave up soda many moons ago, hibiscus tea was one of my favorite go-to drinks. I love its sweet-tart taste and of course, that gorgeously vibrant color! Hibiscus Cherry Chia Coolers combine the best of many worlds. Mouth-puckering cherry juice and hibiscus tea make natural partners, and the drinks are packed with a host of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and Omega 3’s. On a sweltering day, nothing could be more refreshing.
Have you ever made grits? When chia seeds are added to hot water, they act a lot like grits do. The seeds tend to clump up together unless you are deliberate about stirring them promptly. This step takes just a few minutes, but it’s one that shouldn’t be skipped.
After the seeds have had a chance to bloom, they’ll develop a halo-like gelatinous coating. If you did a good job of stirring the chia seeds earlier, the chia seeds will swim around freely within the tea and juice mixture without any fear of clumping. Soaked chia seeds taste a lot like the seeds on the surface of a strawberry–slightly crunchy with a soft exterior.
It’s a great idea to make these Hibiscus Cherry Chia Coolers individually. This way, the drinks can always be enjoyed at their fizziest. With the help of a tea and juice concentrate, you can make as many or as few drinks as you want, whenever you want. Sweeten the concentrate with agave, and give it a final stir just before pouring. When it comes to these nutrient packed seeds everybody deserves their fair share!
Hibiscus Cherry Chia Cooler
Makes 4-6 drinks.
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp hibiscus tea
3 Tbsp chia seeds
1 cup tart cherry juice
4 Tbsp agave
Equipment:
large teapot and strainer
medium sized pitcher
drinking glasses
straws
Directions:
1. Brew the tea in 2 cups of boiling water for 5-6 minutes. Strain the tea into a medium sized pitcher.
2. Add the chia seeds to the hot brew. Stir the tea continuously for a few minutes so that the seeds do not clump up together. Let the tea sit until it cools room temperature.
3. After the tea has come to room temperature, add the cherry juice and stir in the agave. This will serve as your tea concentrate.
4. To make a sparkling tea cooler, give the tea concentrate a stir, then pour it into a drinking glass until it is half full. Top off the tea with sparkling water and a few ice cubes. Add a drinking straw and enjoy!