The term pineapple tea can be used to describe a variety of beverages that incorporate pineapple, pineapple juice, and pineapple flavoring. A pineapple tea may be served hot or cold and may or may not incorporate actual tea leaves into its recipe. Pineapple is often used as a flavoring in tropical-flavored teas and herbal infusions, and its flavors can combine particularly well with green tea leaves.
Like many fruits, the pineapple's flavors work particularly well in teas and herbal infusions, also known as tisanes. In many cases, a pineapple tea is a drink that is made from flavored tea leaves. Tea leaves easily absorb flavors and scents, making the production of pineapple tea quite easy. Typically the process involves the addition of a pineapple flavor essence with the tea leaves. In some cases, bits of dried pineapple may be added to the blend for additional color, though its contribution to the flavor of the tea may be negligible.
The pineapple is a sweet tropical fruit, and its flavors are enjoyed in a variety of foods and beverages. Pineapple juice is readily available in many supermarkets and is a popular ingredient in many pineapple tea recipes. Slices of fresh pineapple may also be added to these drinks as both a garnish as well as to add some color and additional flavor.
One simple way of preparing cold pineapple tea is to blend frozen pineapple juice concentrate with some type of sweetener as well as iced black or green tea. Hot pineapple teas can be prepared by heating up pineapple juice, spices, and sweeteners and then infusing teabags in the heated liquid for a few minutes. The numerous varieties of flavored and unflavored teas and tisanes on the market make it easy to customize pineapple tea recipes. Some flavors that may work well with pineapple include coconut and mint.
For those who are concerned about the consumption of natural or artificial sweeteners, it may be wiser to drink pineapple tea that is not made from fruit juice. Instead, these people should stick with pineapple-flavored teas and tisanes. Some of these blends may taste better, or sweeter, than others, so it is a good idea for pineapple lovers to sample different types of tea to find the brands that they prefer. Some people find that Chinese green tea leaves possess the natural sweetness that blends very nicely with pineapple and other fruit flavorings.
