Grape Mint Sofa Corner

Crushed green grapes give peppermint tea a gentle fruit sweetness, and a small amount of vanilla makes the finish softer. Split the grapes properly so their juice reaches the tea; leaving them whole adds very little flavor. The mint should stay clear and cool, with the fruit in the background. Strain if you don't want pieces of skin in the cup. This is a mild evening variation with a little more roundness than plain mint tea, without becoming a sweet dessert drink.

Ingredients

• 1 tea bag Peppermint tea
• 6 oz Water
• 1/4 cup Seedless green grapes, halved
• 1/8 tsp Alcohol-free vanilla flavoring

Make it

1. Prepare any fruit as listed, removing stones, cores and hard stems.
2. Brew the tea in the measured water according to its packet, then remove the bag.
3. Whisk any nut or seed butter into a spoonful of the hot tea first. Add it back with the fruit, juice, spices or other listed flavorings. Warm gently in a small pan for 3–4 minutes if needed to soften fruit; do not boil.
4. Strain if preferred, removing whole peel, herb or ginger pieces. Serve at a comfortable drinking temperature.

Benefits

Peppermint · caffeine-free with grape and vanilla

Peppermint gives grape and vanilla a brewed base without caffeine, so the flavor does not depend on a caffeinated tea or coffee.

The vanilla detail

Here vanilla supplies a sweet-smelling vanilla aroma, with peppermint and grape turning that familiar ingredient into a different kind of warm cup.