Making best use of a gift, I made this rooibos and lavender tea sorbet. It would work perfectly as a palate cleanser.
When we were younger my parents would often treat us to a silver service dinner. This was always at the top of the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg, and always to celebrate something special. I can remember that between the starters and the main course, we were given a spoonful of sorbet, to cleanse the palate. This sorbet cleanser has been served on many occasions, not only at silver service dinners. It somehow makes me feel ‘grown up’. A few years ago we went to Waterkloof for dinner and we got an amuse dessert to whet our appetites for the course we had ordered. It got me thinking, why not a sweet sorbet to cleanse the palate between the main course and dessert? This sorbet has a unique flavour of our local red bush tea, and whereas I could really taste the tea, Dave could really taste the honey. You can substitute any tea of your choice to make this sorbet – and you really only need a few spoonful’s as an amuse, or have a huge bowl for dessert itself.
Rooibos and Lavender Tea Sorbet
Ingredients
- 500 mls water
- 45 mls rooibos and lavender tea
- 50 g honey
- 150 g fructose
Method
- bring the water to the boil and allow the tea to infuse for 3 hours
- add the honey and the fructose
- chill the mixture in the fridge overnight
- churn in your ice cream maker
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
We used to have breakfast at the Carlton, my son loved it because they always gave children a little boxed chocolate animal, that was THE place back then.
we NEVER got those, that I can remember 🙂
What a treasured memory Tandy. Your sorbet sounds heavenly and I don’t even enjoy Rooibos tea.
🙂 Mandy
you can make this with any tea Mandy 🙂
What a wonderful memory and this sorbet sounds divine
Thank you Usha 🙂
That really sounds delicious Tandy, think I’ll give it a try 🙂
*hugs*
thank you Hope 🙂
It looks so tempting in those little glasses all frosted up. I want to dive in, even though I don’t like tea 🙂
I was most impressed by the way the glasses did that!
Really love photo! My first taste of rooibos tea was just the other day, if you can believe it!? And I was smitten… this would be such a lovely “amuse” recipe to try!
thank you so much! I love my rooibos tea 🙂
What a lovely memory, and what a stunning photo! I really enjoy sorbets and we can actually get rooibos tea here (although I still don´t know how to pronounce it!) so will be giving this one a go next time I can buy some.
thanks Tanya 🙂 it is pronounced ROY (rooi = red) BOS (not a long O as in BOSS but O as in HORSE) (bos = bush) so red bush tea!
Brilliant, now I can ask for it properly!!
I must make a better effort and remembering the whole world does not speak Afrikaans 🙂
this sorbet sounds insanely refreshing! How delicious!
thanks Joanne 🙂
You are making me tempted to purchase an ice cream maker. This sounds so refreshing. Have you ever eaten or had tea at a TWG’s? You would love all the tea recipes and desserts made out of tea. Of course with my last visit I had a Lavender hua cha. It turned a lovely pink when the lavender flower opened in the clear glass tea pot. It made me think of you and your cooking blog, Lavender and Lime. Take care, BAM
thanks BAM, I have been to a tea place in Australia (cannot remember the name). I have some lovely flower teas and one that opens when you pour hot water over it – I shall think of you next time I have a cup 🙂
You are psychic. We had a sorbet fail the other day and Katherine, I kid you not, said you know what would be good? Sweet tea sorbet. I had to think about it, but you’ve both convinced me now! This looks amazing.
thanks Greg, I look forward to what the two of you come up with!
Thanks you for sharing family memories and your lovely looking sorbet recipe.
It is my pleasure Karen 🙂
These sound and look so refreshing, I love Rooibos tea and lavender, what a great combo!
It is so amazing – and now I have new ideas to follow 🙂
It’s been so hot and humid here lately that this sorbet would put a huge smile on my face! Looks fantastic.
thank you Maureen, and thank you for the visit 🙂
Hey! I love the post and the blog. it’s great to see people using tea in creative ways. it looks like you might love tea as much as we do. you might be interested in our post on brewing the perfect cuppa. http://teaandsympathynewyork.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/how-to-brew-the-perfect-cup-of-tea/
hope you enjoy.x
thanks for the visit and the compliment – I will pop over to your blog soon 🙂
This looks so refreshing!
Now, this looks like a spectacular dessert. It looks so refreshing too!
I can’t wait to try it out! 😉
please let me know when you do 🙂
Oh this sounds absolutely wonderful. I have a fair amount of lavender left from the wedding, so I might just try this one!!!
It is serendipity – lavender was my wedding theme as well 🙂
Those little sorbets between courses are always fun. The few I’ve had in recent memory have always been really alcoholic (usually calvados) and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I love the idea of a tea-based sorbet.
and I have some Calvados left from our trip to Brittany so you have given me an idea! Thanks 🙂
That looks and sounds sensational – perfect for a hot afternoon! I never think to use my ice cream maker for things like this. Must rectify that!
In summer I have mine going every couple of days 🙂 Thanks for the visit.
I recently discovered red tea & wow!
What a difference it has made to my health.
I feel 20 years younger.
It’s so worth detoxing with red tea, you’ll feel amazing 🙂
I so agree!