For 22 years prior to my husband’s retirement, we traveled to Barbados annually for his company’s Board of Directors’ meeting. In anticipation of the trip each year, I looked forward to many things. It probably comes as no big surprise that chief among my most anticipated favorites were food related items: Barbados Tea with Lime and Simple Syrup and flying fish sandwich.
The annual sojourn to Barbados was special in many ways. First, the timing was perfect. We left for the island on the Saturday following New Year’s Day. All the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season was left behind, especially if you got all your Christmas decorations put up before the trip. Secondly, the familiarity of the island was comforting. Year after year, we knew what to expect and look forward to seeing many familiar faces.
The first time I had a glass of tea served the Bajan way, I was mystified. The waiter served our glasses of ice tea and set a small pitcher of clear liquid on the table. We looked at each other, and it was obvious nobody had a clue.
The waiter said,
“It’s sugar.”
Again, we had no clue.
He said,
“You put it in your tea like this.”
That was over 20 years ago and I’m sure he’s still talking about the Americans who couldn’t figure out how to sweeten their tea.
I’ve had a gracious plenty glasses of good sweet ice tea in my day. Check out my recipes for Southern Sweet Ice Tea, Ginger Peach Sweet Ice Tea, and Triple Berry Southern Sweet Ice Tea, Southerners know how to brew up, and appreciate, a good pitcher of thirst-quenching ice tea. I didn’t have to wait to visit Barbados to have my first glass of good sweet ice tea. The whole wonderful experience of being on the island added an extra bit of sweetness to my tea.
***Use either Persian or Key limes. The big limes are Persian, the most common grocery store variety. The small yellow ones are Key limes***.
Offering simple syrup as a sweetener is really smart, when you stop to think about it. Many folks prefer their tea unsweetened for different reasons. Some don’t like the taste of sugar in their tea <gasp!>. Some omit for dietary reason and others for calorie restrictions. You don’t always know which camp your guests fall into. If you’re not sure, brew up a batch of unsweetened tea and pull out your little pitcher of simple syrup.
Problem solved. Folks can sweeten if they want or drink it unsweetened. <gasp!>
Barbados Tea is a little part of the island I have access to at any time. Food memories are some of the most powerful memories. Filed in my sweet tea memory bank, along with many happy memories associated with Southern Sweet Tea, are some sweet memories about our time in Barbados drinking tea with lime and simple syrup.
Y’all come see us!
Barbados Tea with Lime and Simple Syrup
yield: 2 quarts
Inspired by iced tea served on the island of Barbados, West Indies. Tea is made unsweetened and served with a splash of lime and each glass is individually sweetened with a simple syrup. It solves the dilemma of serving sweet and unsweet tea to the same group. I have no idea the brand of tea ordinarily used on the island but I’m certain it isn’t Luzianne. That’s my preferred brand and it’s all I use at home.
brew the tea:
cold tap water
3 Luzianne family size tea bags
Fill a small sauce pan two-thirds full of cold tap water. Cover and bring to a boil. When boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and place the tea bags in the water. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Do not steep for longer or the tea will be bitter.
After 5 minutes, remove the tea bags but don’t throw them away. Add the steep tea to a 2 quart pitcher.
Return the tea bags to the saucepan and fill the saucepan with water. Dunk the tea bags in the water a few times and then pour into the pitcher with the brewed tea. Continue until the 2 quart pitcher is full.
make the simple syrup:
1 cup cold tap water
1 cup granulated sugar
Rinse the saucepan you used to brew the tea. Add water and sugar to the saucepan.
Place on medium heat, stir occasionally, until the sugar has melted.
Pour into a small pitcher.
assemble the tea:
Fill a glass with ice.
Pour brewed tea over ice.
Add lime wedges.
Pour in a small amount of simple syrup. Stir and taste. Adjust for additional simple syrup or lime as desired.
Barbados Tea with Lime and Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- yield: 2 quarts
- Inspired by iced tea served on the island of Barbados West Indies. The is made unsweetened and served with a splash of lime and each glass is individually sweetened with a simple syrup. It solves the dilemma of serving sweet and unsweet tea to the same group.
- brew the tea:
- cold tap water
- 3 Luzianne family size tea bags
- Fill a small sauce pan two-thirds full of cold tap water. Cover and bring to a boil. When boiling remove the saucepan from heat and place the tea bags in the water. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Do not steep for longer or the tea will be bitter.
- After 5 minutes remove the tea bags but don't throw the away. Add the steep tea to a 2 quart pitcher.
- Return the tea bags to the saucepan and fill the saucepan with water. Dunk the tea bags in the water a few times and then pour into the pitcher with the brewed tea. Continue until the 2 quart pitcher is full.
- make the simple syrup:
- 1 cup cold tap water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Rinse the saucepan you used to brew the tea. Add water and sugar to the saucepan.
- Place on medium heat stir occasionally, until the sugar has melted.
- Pour into a small pitcher.
Instructions
- assemble the tea:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour brewed tea over ice.
- Add lime wedges.
- Pour in a small amount of simple syrup. Stir and taste. Adjust for additional simple syrup or lime as desired.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
The first time I was served simple syrup with my iced tea was at a little family owned restaurant in Negril. I too had no idea what it was and I took some with my spoon and then stuck my finger in it. I could hear a small gasp coming from the back of the room like, “good grief, she doesn’t know sugar??”
I love your tea!
Jackie Garvin says
Maureen,
I loved your story. Something so simple and common and neither of us could figure out what in the heck it was!
Adam J. Holland says
I know what I’m about to say would be considered sacrilege in my beloved South, but the simple syrup idea makes more sense than the granulated thing. OK. There. I said it. ~ Love your tea, Jackie. Hope you’re well. 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Adam,
You are a brave soul. A good tip for the granulated thing is to add it to the freshly brewed tea that’s still hot. It dissolves better and takes less granulated stuff to sweeten your tea. I hope all is well with you. Adam. It’s great to hear from you.
Florida Farm Girl says
There’s a restaurant in Acadia National Park that serves lemonade this way. This southern girl was confused at first, too. However, it is a genius idea since sugar doesn’t melt worth diddly in cold beverages.
Jackie Garvin says
Sue,
They mess with our minds. LOL!
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
Yum, anything that reminds you of the islands is an absolute winner!
Jackie Garvin says
I agree! Thanks for stopping by.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Sounds super refreshing!
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Megan
Baker by Nature says
Perfect Summer drink!
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you!
Marie-Pierre Breton says
Sounds dreamy Barbados Iced Tea! I have to say, an iced tea without sugar is no iced tea to me.. I like that it’s filled with limes also making it extra fresh, it could almost me called a Limoniced Tea! Going to make this on a hot summer day!
Jackie Garvin says
I agree, Marie-Pierre! Thanks for stopping by.
Nikki says
I love this idea! Simple Syrup is so easy to make. This will make a wonderful addition to a gathering. I will have to try it! My mom is diabetic so she will appreciate this so much!. Although I learned to make the best Sweet Tea from her!
Jackie Garvin says
Nikki,
I’m not sure why we don’t use simple syrup more often for sweetening beverages. It makes so much sense for a crowd. Thanks for stopping by!