Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Sudanese Cinnamon Tea

April 4, 2013 By Sasha Martin 13 Comments

Under the pulsing noonday sun, Tea Ladies line the streets of Sudan. They soak up what little shade they can find. Water simmers over charcoal stoves. They swirl a mishmash of ingredients through the steam, into the pot. You can pick your combination. Will it be mint? Or what about ginger? The most popular option for many patrons is cinnamon tea, a blend of black tea steeped with cinnamon sticks. Many patrons like to hold a sugar cube between the teeth while drinking to sweeten the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol-Free, Gluten Free Adaptable, Hot, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sudan (North), Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: South African Amarula Coffee

March 15, 2013 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

There's nothing like a drunk elephant to get my attention. Whoa, whoa, whoa. It' s a little early for that kind of talk. Let me back up a moment. Amarula Coffee is a South African favorite - a breezy concoction that includes your favorite coffee, some brown sugar (the sweetener of choice in South Africa), a shot or two of Amarula, and whipped cream. It's very much like an Irish Coffee. Why? The Amarula. You can find this creamy concoction at most liquor stores in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol, Fun Friday, Hot, International Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, South Africa

Recipe: Cocoa Tea

November 23, 2012 By Sasha Martin 21 Comments

When I told Ava that the fine people of Saint Lucia like to wake up in the morning and drink Cocoa Tea, she squinted her eyes, titled her head, and said "what mama?" "It's like hot cocoa," I smiled, "but richer, and seasoned with cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg." Her eyes instantly popped open in recognition and the corners of her lips curled impishly. I showed her my mound of chocolate chips and added that in Saint Lucia they use cocoa sticks and balls to make their Cocoa Tea, but we'd … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Breakfast, Christmas, Fun Friday, Hot, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Saint Lucia, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian

Recipe: Russian Tea

November 4, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

If you want to try something uniquely Russian (at least, I'd never heard of it until this week), try a cup of nice, black tea with a spoonful of fruit jam stirred in. Tea is the national drink of Russia, while the jam is a happy bonus. If you're serving to more than one, be sure to brew the tea extra strong. According to Wikipedia: A notable feature of Russian tea culture is the two-step brewing process. Firstly, tea concentrate (Russian: заварка) is prepared: a quantity of dry tea … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Drinks, Europe, Hot, International Recipes, Russia

Recipe: Pakistani Coffee with Cinnamon & Cardamom

August 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 26 Comments

I'm not a sadist by any means, but I will take any chance I can get to make my sweet Mr Picky drink coffee. For years now, he has claimed to hate the stuff. I maintain that coffee simmered gently with milk and spices is not the same as the sludge served at the local gas station. I've tried making him Nauru's "Recycled" Iced Coffee (no luck), Arabian Cardamom Coffee (no luck), and even an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, complete with popcorn (he exhibited mild curiosity but only ate the popcorn). … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Asia, Gluten Free Adaptable, Hot, Pakistan, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe: North African Sage n’ Green Tea

July 20, 2012 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

There are a few ways to keep cool in hot weather. In the west, we wear shorts, drink cold drinks, and blast the A/C. In Niger, they use a completely different set of tricks. The polar opposite, in fact. For starers, they cover up. Believe it or not, wearing long layers made of lightweight cotton keeps the sun's hot rays off your skin. The flowing movement of the fabric acts like natural air conditioning. The elephants accomplish the same thing by dusting themselves with dirt. Not quite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol-Free, Gluten Free Adaptable, Hot, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Niger, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Swahili Ginger n’ Milk Tea

May 27, 2012 By Sasha Martin 15 Comments

Whether the sun is blistering or the snow is falling, Mozambique has the answer for you. Ginger - crazy ginger tea. The beauty of this drink is in the simplicity. There's no long list of spices, as with Indian Chai (although, goodness do I love and adore a good cup of Chai). It's purer than that. Every mug gently cradles steeped black tea and fresh grated ginger, topped off with creamy milk and sweet spoonfuls of sugar. It's a little bit spicy and a whole lot of comfort. Served cold, this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol-Free, Cold, Gluten Free Adaptable, Hot, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mozambique, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe: Mongolian Millet & Green Milk Tea (Suutei Tsai)

May 3, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

If tea time in your home means sweet, sugary cups of deliciousness, think again. This week we're sipping on salty, milky green tea cooked with buttery toasted millet. This is one of the more elaborate versions of Suutei Tsai - a famous Mongolian drink enjoyed out on the cold steppes. Each sip tastes of milk and salt and cereal - but the drink also has a remarkable drying effect in the mouth, thanks to a healthy dose of naturally astringent green tea. This is absolutely the strangest tea I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Asia, Gluten Free Adaptable, Hot, International Recipes, Mongolia, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian