How to recognize the Dutch!

When you’re reading this, I am back to my home country for a week. So I’d like to take some time to introduce the tallest people on earth to you. And serve a cold brewed ice tea along with that.

On holidays it’s a fun pastime, trying to guess where other tourist are from. Usually you distinguish them easily from the locals. Packed with a big bag sag, comfortable clothes, in a more hasty speed and most of the times with a map in their hands. But sometimes just by the way they look, like the color of their skin and hair, their physiognomy, the look in their eyes or the way they gesture. Their length, their posture, it all can tell a lot.
When you can hear them speak, it usually easy. French, Spanish, English, Italian, I can pick them out without any effort. Dutch as well, because I know that language. More difficult for me it’s when they are Scandinavian. As tall and blond as we, but they speak another language.
But what if you only could know what they were saying, the subject of their speech? Would it be possible to differentiate the French from the English, the Dutch from the Vietnamese, Americans from Russians?

Well, if they’re talking about the weather, than there’s no doubt. They’re definitely Dutch. We’re always discussing the weather. And there is a reason for this, in The Netherlands the weather is different every day. It can be sunny or cold. Wet, warm, breezy, drizzly, snowy, cloudy, foggy, dull, grey, miserable. And what’s good for one can be bad for another.
It hardly ever it is just okay.
The weather is  a subject we always discuss. It’s our conversation starter, a way to get to know each other, a subject for a small talk with the neighbor, the cashier or even your closest relatives, a way to bond. And although I really love the sunny, warm weather here in California, I do miss talking about it every now and then.

But what I like most about this Californian weather is the chance it gives me to experiment with my cold brewed ice tea recipe. Well, you hardly can call it a recipe, as you just put some tea (loose leaves preferable) and water in a jar and let it extract into a light, fresh and lovely drink. Unlike iced tea from brewed tea this version is less bitter and you don’t need sugar, honey of another sweetening. Although you can do add that if you like. Just start with 1/2 tablespoon, you always can add more. And the fun thing: you can make from any tea you like.

Try it!

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ICED TEA illustration and recipe by EDIE EATS Food Blog by Edith Dourleijn

RECIPE COLD BREWED ICE TEA

My favorite way to make the best ice tea

You need of 1 liter/a quart:
1,5 Tablespoon tea, preferably loose tea leaves
1 liter/a quart of water

You do:
Put the tea leaves and the water in a can and put in the fridge overnight.

Sieve and drink.

Tip: You can add fresh mint, lemon verbena, thyme or citrus balm if you like. Or use anise hysop (licorice mint) or stevia if you want it a bit sweter. Also a slice of lemon or lime is great in it, especially when it’s going to be a hot day tomorrow.

My favorite mixes of the 2014 Summer are:
1/2 T black tea + 1 T  Clementine Sunset (WholeFoods loose tea mix)
1,5 T black tea + 1 twig mint + 1 slice of lemon
3/4 T black tea + 3/4 T green tea
1/2 T black tea + 1 T dried (or a twig fresh) lemon verbena

Enjoy!

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