Keep your cool with Summerdown peppermint
When the temperature climbs, we're all for slowing down and keeping things simple. While we love long summer lunches, tablescaping and leisurely dinners in the garden, there are days when only two things really matter: something icy cold to drink and something delicious straight from the freezer.Fortunately, peppermint was made for days like these. Naturally refreshing and wonderfully cooling, it's the perfect ingredient for easy summer treats that require very little effort and deliver maximum refreshment.Here are three of our favourite ways to stay cool this summer.
Summerdown Peppermint Iced Tea
The simplest summer refresher.
Ingredients
- 1 Summerdown peppermint tea bag
- Boiling water
- Ice
- Slice of lemon
Method
- Make your usual cup of Summerdown peppermint tea and allow it to cool.
- Chill in the fridge.
- Serve over ice with a slice of lemon.
Summerdown says: We may be biased, but we think peppermint tea tastes even better iced. Keep a jug in the fridge and you'll always have something refreshing ready to go.
Summerdown Peppermint & Elderflower Spritz
A wonderfully floral twist on our iced tea.
Ingredients
- 1 Summerdown peppermint tea bag
- Boiling water
- Ice
- Slice of lemon
- Splash of elderflower cordial
- Sparkling water
Method
- Make the peppermint tea as above and allow it to cool.
- Pour over ice.
- Add a splash of elderflower cordial.
- Top with sparkling water and stir gently.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon.
Summerdown says: Elderflower and peppermint are made for each other. Light, fragrant and sparkling, this is summer in a glass.
Summerdown Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream
The Less-Than-5-Minute Version
If we're honest, when it's really hot, this is the version we're making.
Ingredients
- 600ml double cream
- 1 x 397g tin condensed milk
- 1–2 drops Summerdown Pure Peppermint Oil
- 75g Summerdown Mint Crisps, roughly crushed (or your favourite Summerdown chocolates from the cupboard)
Method
- Whip the double cream to soft peaks.
- Fold in the condensed milk and peppermint extract.
- Stir through most of the crushed Mint Crisps, reserving a few for the top.
- Spoon into a freezer-proof container and scatter over the remaining Mint Crisps.
- Freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight until firm.
Summerdown says: We can't face cooking right now, but if you're more of a traditionalist when it comes to ice cream, please see below!
Cool, creamy and packed with minty crunch – the perfect hot-weather treat.
For the Ice Cream Purists...
Prefer to make your ice cream from scratch? Follow your favourite vanilla ice cream recipe and just before freezing, add 1 drop of Summerdown Pure Peppermint Oil together with a generous handful of crushed Summerdown Mint Crisps.
Summerdown says: There's something wonderfully nostalgic about homemade ice cream. If you've got the time to churn, we think it's worth every minute - especially when mint choc chip is involved.
Whether you're sipping iced tea in the shade or sneaking a second scoop of mint choc chip straight from the freezer, we hope these simple recipes help you keep your cool all summer long.
