Black Tea Fig Morning Desk

Ripe fig gives black tea a mellow, jam-like sweetness, and orange adds a little citrus lift. Remove the hard fig stem and mash the fruit well before stirring it into the cooled brew. You can strain out the seeds, though leaving a few makes the drink feel pleasantly rustic. Keep the tea at ordinary strength so it doesn't become too tannic. This is a fruitier alternative to plain iced black tea, with a rounded finish and some caffeine.

Ingredients

• 1 tea bag Black tea
• 6 oz Water
• 1 fruit Ripe fig, stem removed
• 2 oz Orange juice

Make it

1. Brew the tea in the measured water, using the temperature and steeping time on its packet. Remove the tea bag.
2. Cool the tea in a heatproof container, then chill for about 30 minutes.
3. Mash any soft fruit in a separate glass. Lightly bruise herbs or ginger; add these and the listed juices or spices to the cooled tea.
4. Stir well and taste. Remove ginger or herb sprigs when their flavor suits you. Strain if you prefer a smoother drink, then serve chilled.

Benefits

Orange · a little vitamin C

Using orange with black tea and fig brings vitamin C for absorbing iron from plant foods, along with a familiar sweet-tart citrus flavor.

Fig, black tea, and orange

The fig contributes a rounded, honeyed fruit flavor to black tea and orange, giving you a specific flavor combination to reach for instead of a default pour.

Contains caffeine.