Drinks / lime juice

We're beyond the fourth of July, and that means summer has officially arrived in the Berkshires. I know we've been wearing our winter sweaters lately, but the warm weather has returned again, hopefully for at least a few months! And that means it's time to celebrate outside, preferably with your favorite people. The following recipe is a refreshing, healthy and hydrating drink that can be made with or without the addition of alcohol. I know so many people who, for one reason or the other, do not imbibe. And let's be honest, drinking plain club soda at every social gathering can bet a bit boring! Try making this drink, a few pints at a time or in large batches for big groups. This way, you have a base of slightly sweet and tangy citrus soda, that everyone, even the kids, can enjoy. Simply add tequila or rum to an individual glass for a customized adult beverage. If only it were this easy to make everyone happy, all the time. Cheers to summer!

Makes 2 pint-sized drinks and is easy to scale up for larger groups.

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit (about 1 large grapefruit)

1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)

1-2 tablespoons of raw honey, or more for a sweeter drink

1 ounce Fire Cider African Bronze or raw apple cider vinegar

soda water

ice

Method:

First, juice the grapefruit. I got about one cup from one large grapefruit.

Then, juice the lime again. One lime gave one ounce of juice, pretty handy!

I mixed 1 tablespoon of raw, African Bronze Honey into the lime juice. This honey has a strong floral, very sweet and slightly smoky flavor. I think that orange blossom honey would also mix really well with the other flavors. Use more honey for a sweeter drink. Mix until the honey is completely dissolved in the lime juice.

Combine the lime, honey and grapefruit and stir well.

Add ice to two pint glasses.

Split the juice and honey mixture between the two glasses.

Add ½ ounce of Fire Cider African Bronze, or plain Apple Cider Vinegar, to each glass.

Top each glass off with soda water (club soda) and stir gently.

Optional:

Add an ounce of tequila or white rum to each glass.

Salt the rim of each pint glass before adding the ingredients.

Garnish with a lime or grapefruit wedge and enjoy!

This new twist on my favorite floral tea was sent to me by one of my favorite people, Noel Prophet aka Soul Prophet, as in, Soul Prophet and The Faithless Few whom some of you might know from the band Dredi.

I had so much fun dancing to Noel's music back when I worked with him and his band mates in the kitchen at Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox Massachusetts.

Noel and his Fire Cider, lookin' good!

Noel has already shared his Jafakin' Jerk Sauce Recipe, which is one of my favorites...so you know this has to be good!

For a Fierce Earl Grey Tea:

Brew a cup of Earl Grey. Add a little fresh squeezed lime juice, plus raw honey to taste. Noel recommends a lot!

Add two dashes or more of Fire Cider and stir to combine. Enjoy hot or cold. The Fire Cider really draws out the bergamot flavor nicely.  

This is fiyah for ya body, mind, and spirit!

My first choice for organic loose leaf Earl Grey tea.