DIY Tea Rocket Pops
Summer is great for so many reasons. The best part of summer is the warm weather, bringing vacations, tons of outdoor events, activities, and all sorts of fun. The worst part of summer? Also the warm weather... and by warm, I mean almost unbearably hot.
Down here in the South, summer's heat is no joke. At times, it's hard to enjoy outdoor activities when it feels like you're swimming through the air because of the humidity. But hey, we make the most of it, especially during our Friday events at HQ! We sweat it out and cool off with a jar of iced tea and frozen desserts!
As it happens, one of America's most celebrated holidays falls right in the middle of summer, when temperatures are at an all-time high: the Fourth of July. Everyone's out enjoying grilled food, cobblers, pies, and preparing for an evening exploding with fireworks, all the while, everything is decorated in all things red, white, and blue!
To celebrate summer, the Fourth of July, and cool reprieve from the summer heat, we decided Rocket Pops were just the way to do so. They're fruity, frozen, and scream Fourth of July. While store-bought pops taste good, these homemade Rocket Pops with our very own Piper and Leaf tea far surpass any store bought treat.
Their all-natural, locally sourced ingredients give these pops their vibrant colors, and not only are they bursting with flavor, they are brimming with health benefits! These tri-colored, frozen pops are packed with vitamins and locally sourced goodness, making them the perfect Summer treat to beat the heat!
The Process
When making these, we decided to make two versions! While both have vibrant red hues of Strawberry Shindig and and the contrasting depth of Piper Mint Blues, the middle of each set of pops is different!
In one set, we stuck with the fruit theme and decided on lemonade as the middle layer. In the other set, we decide on a creamsicle layer for the middle! Whether you want a frozen fruit fiesta or to reminisce with decadent berries and rich cream, either way, these will not disappoint!
Tea Rocket Pops
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 1 Loose Leaf Muslin Bag of Strawberry Shindig
- 1 Loose Leaf Muslin Bag of Piper Mint Blues
- Simple Syrup (Read here for our recipe)
For lemonade Layer:
- 3-5 Lemons
- Simple Syrup
For Creamsicle Layer:
- 1/2 cup full-fat plain Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/8 cup Sugar
- A pinch of salt
Directions:
- Make 8 ounces of both Strawberry Shindig and Piper Mint Blues tea concentrate, let concentrate cool to room temp before pouring in molds
- Mix together equal parts Simple Syrup into each tea concentrate (Can use less sweetener or an alternative sweetener, alternative sweeteners may affect the color of Piper Mint Blues)
- Fill your popsicle mold 1/3 of the way with Strawberry Shindig
- Place molds in freezer for a few hours or until the base is completely frozen
- Meanwhile, mix together middle layer components
- For lemonade, add equal part lemon juice and simple syrup (for more tart lemonade, you can add less sweetener)
- For creamsicle layer, mix together all ingredients in a bowl till fully combined
- Once your first layer is frozen, pour in your middle layer till your mold is 2/3 full, place popsicle base in each mold, then place the molds in the freezer for a few hours or until fully set
- After your middle layer is frozen, carefully pour in your last layer, Piper Mint Blues, until it reaches top. (This part can be a tad tricky! We let our molds sit out for a few minutes which made it easier to move the base over to carefully pour the last layer in). Place your molds in freezer till fully set.
- Remove from molds, and enjoy!
* We bought rocket shaped molds, but you can use whatever you have available! Paper or plastic cups work perfectly for popsicle molds or you can find varying shapes and sizes of molds at local grocery stores!
Festive Fun and Togetherness
Every Friday evening you can find us at our Headquarters taking part in all sorts of tea and community. On an average Friday, you will find kids running about and filling the air with laughter, families playing yard games, folks dancing to contra music in their finest getup, and an all around resounding celebration to support local.
Though no matter the occasion, one thing remains constant: our love for Piper and Leaf. Time again, we have seen that Piper and Leaf has a special way of fostering community and togetherness. Whether we dance and play games or have heartfelt conversations on the front porch, all seem to be shared over a jar of Piper and Leaf tea, and sometimes, even, a homemade tea rocket pop.
