Here’s a really simple way to make any beverage more fun. Flavored ice cubes! Let’s learn how to make them and go over a few flavoring ideas.
Why Flavored Ice?
The answer here is simple. Flavor! Traditional ice cubes are made from water. And when they melt, they will, well, water down your drink. Instead, you can make ice cubes from nearly any liquid. You can use the same liquid, as in coffee or tea, or you can use something contrasting, like lemon juice for iced tea, or complimenting, like vanilla milk cubes for iced coffee.
Some Ideas for Spectacular Drinks
This list is by no means complete! There are so many options for flavored ice.
- Chopped mint in water for iced tea
- Chopped basil in water for Bloody Mary’s, mocktail or not
- Squeezed lemon juice for iced tea
- Tea for iced tea
- Coffee for iced coffee
- Blackberry puree for tea or coffee (strain seeds)
- Vanilla extract in milk or cream for iced coffee (one of my favorite flavored ice cubes)
- Strawberry Puree for lemonade
- Macerated violet flowers for tea or lemonade
- Cucumber and mint for ice water
- Pomegranate seeds and mint
- Simple syrup for any drink
- Prosecco or Moscato wine with fruit for cocktails
- Watermelon for lemonade
- Grated ginger for tea
- Lavender for fun!
As you can see, the list goes on and on.
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How to Make Flavored Ice Cubes
Making frozen flavor cubes is so easy. Simply wash your additive, smash, chop or shred, depending on what it is. Place in the ice cube tray. Then, fill in with water, coffee, tea, or whatever your liquid will be for that cube. You can do all one type or mix it up. Hot water will give you clearer ice cubes, but cold water will freeze faster unless your freezer is completely airtight. Some things like certain types of alcohol and juice won’t freeze completely, but end up more like a flavored slushy than flavored ice.
The type of ice cube tray that you use makes a difference. Round or large cubes take longer to freeze, but they thaw out much slower. Plastic trays tend to crack after a few years, so I’ve switched to mostly silicone cube trays. Of course, nothing says nostalgia like cracking apart one of those old metal ice cube trays. I got such a kick out of that as a kid!
Have you ever made flavored ice cubes? The heat is on! It’s time for cold drinks!
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Source: DIY Natural – Food
