I have been addicted to sweet tea since childhood. A refreshing drink on a hot summer day, or, heck, in the middle of winter, it combines the strong, slightly bitter flavor of black tea with the palate-soothing sweetness of sugar and brightens the whole thing with a squirt of lemon. Divine. And I can even partake of this heavenly drink right here in West Africa. Lipton tea bags are readily available at local shops. Though most folks here drink it hot (British influence, perhaps?) many have given up the word “tea” altogether. Instead, it’s simply “Lipton.” The marketers will be pleased, I am sure. Despite all its availability and my longstanding love, sweet tea is now being challenged by a local usurper for dominance in my heart. I feel myself falling … for limeade.
Women all over town are selling tiny limes by the bucketful. So, I buy a bucket of them for about $3, bleach them, then cut them into halves and start squeezing. That part is not great fun. Boiling tea definitely ranks higher. Score one for the Lipton. But, pop in a DVD, sit down with a juicer and a bowl, and a few episodes of Veronica Mars later, I have enough lime juice to keep me happy for quite some time. The trick is to freeze the juice in ice cube trays. Five cubes in a pitcher of water (plus a healthy scoop of sugar) yields a treat so refreshing it just might have won my heart away from my beloved sweet tea.
Sounds like a new found delight! But rival “Sweet tea?” Hard to believe. Saw a T shirt the other day–said, “Leave the Sweet Tea to the Big Boys.” It is a wonderful Southern thing not much appreciated outside Dixie. Glad you are experiencing the local culture–who knows, you might start a new Jones family tradition and tell your children and grand children it all started when you were in Ghana. Enjoy! I look forward to sharing a glass with you in Dec.
Yummy!! This makes me wish I were there with you watching Veronica Mars!! Maybe we can drink some next year when you are back here. Sounds like you are really enjoying yourself! Have fun!
I’ll bet those little limes you’re talking about are the same things I grew to love in Taiwan. They were called giat-la in Tawanese. And they are not lime-shaped, but round. I started using them instead of lemons to make lemon ice box pies and they were wonderful!
Later I was told they are the same thing as key limes. Aha! Key lime pie!
Glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself and finding new passions in another country. I miss you!
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