How to Make the Drinks a La Menthe, Pina Colada and the History Behind Them

Often times people overlook what a fabulous drink tea can make. An even bigger mistake commonly made is overlooking some under the radar countries that produce some memorable flavors. One of these places is Morocco. The a la Menthe is a fantastic peppermint tea from these parts. Of course, peppermint tea can be drunk out of normal cups. But just imagine how much more elegant it looks when it is served out of a pretty hammered jug and poured into small glasses. It does not have to be poured from a great height, if you are not familiar with the Moroccan ritual, but it is considered inelegant to hold the jug too close to the glass. The a la Menthe should be served piping hot. According to the custom of the country, it should also be drunk piping hot, instead of waiting for it to slightly cool. So how do you make this Moroccan tea?

For 4-6 portions:

2-3 sprigs of mint

2 teaspoons green tea

4 teaspoons sugar

Pine nuts

Put the sprigs of mint into the jug and pour over a little boiling water. Allow to draw briefly and discard mint. Add green tea and enough boiling water for 4-6 people and leave to draw for five minutes. Sweeten to taste. Lay a few pine nuts in the glass or cups and pour the piping hot tea over them. The a la Menthe can be and should be drunk anytime of the day.

But how about a little more party tested beverage? If unfamiliar, the Pina Colada is a tropical long drink from Puerto Rico. Anyone who has ever drunk Pina Colada in the Caribbean and tried to recapture the taste elsewhere is usually extremely disappointed. The drink loses its attraction and originality at a distance. Far too much experimentation has already gone on with Colada recipes. And besides, everyone seems to have problems with shaved ice. To be perfectly honest, do you know anyone with a block of ice and the patience to shave off the ice into fine shavings? Despite the original recipe from Puerto Rico, the very popular Pina elsewhere is still only considered a mediocre drink. This is not just because of the ice, but the coconut cream which does not entirely correspond to that of the original recipe. What you need though is:

Crushed (shaved) ice

5cl (3 tablespoons) white rum

5cl (3 tablespoons) pineapple juice

2cl (1 ½ tablespoons) whipping cream

2cl (1 ½ tablespoons) coconut cream

You'll want to fill the shaker with part of the ice, add rum, pineapple juice, cream and coconut cream. Shake well and pour the mixture into a long drink glass filled up to a third full with shaved ice. Serve immediately with 1 or 2 straws. Pina Colada is a great drink for the afternoon or early evening.