ORGANIC TEA MANGO ICED LOLLY

A LOT OF FRUITS CAN BE MADE INTO ICED LOLLIES!

Looking back at childhood, it was impossible to ask for "ice gola" sold everywhere in the city during the summer season. In fact, kulfi malai was more common in the evening, outside our home. I am not fond of the articial flavours used in the ice-golas. I tasted "ice-gold" when we travelled to maternal grandparent's home, they were not strict. We owned a refrigerator when I was in class-8, we had fruits always at home. We lacked the idea of combining them to create summer soothing ice-lollies. Today, I can create any good ice treat with what I have at home! I have not added milk powder to them that would enhance the taste only to keep the cool treat, vegan & gluten-free! Today at 51, I fear having ice-gola and kulfi malai from the Kolkata streets! There is fear of contaminated water being used in the making of them. When I visited last month, my stomach health was not doing well! The Kolkata heat had been enormous!

THE ROLE OF FOOD IN MY LIFE!

Food plays the prime role in my life! It is the indicator how my day would go, how my mood would be! I did not know, a samosa at 6:45pm yesterday evening would cause me serious bloating for the next few hours! I went out for a walk as late as 8:30 pm, yet my condition did not improve!

It wasn't too bad, else I would not have been able to walk some 4:5 km listening to Bollywood numbers. Although  we live in one of the safest nation, I never walk pass the neighbourhoods in the night time, always take the main road! When I get a severe stomach upset, the first side effect is a severe headache! I enjoyed my walk though this low intensity workout is nothing given my BMI! Back home, I did not feel hungry. I ate an apple+lettuce salad and iced tea. I may be getting few varieties of fruits tomorrow and have salads at night.

I had the cooked food for my lunch today, dinner would be a salad! I think after over two years I got home millet. During the pandemic, I stopped getting; minimising the possibility of excesses at home. I gradually was getting dependant on rice. I have lost the freedom to have five "luchi" or a plateful of rice or two big "porota"! I cannot shun them, I can minimise their amount and frequency. I know how to cook them, I would. I cannot exercise a lot; I went for a swim; had only for half an hour as lightening happened. My coach and friend Joe asked not to be in the pool in the scenario! I am not the kind who would do a half an hour free hand exercise back home. I would prefer lying on the couch instead!

WHAT IS THIS ORGANIC TEA MANGO ICED LOLLY!

You hardly would see me talking about food that I do not enjoy! I remember, last summer I did not share coolers in the blog. I was having them though, quite sugary ones. This year, I think I should share few of them. As I maintain, the recipes I share should be done mostly with kitchen staples. I would not spend 100$ to create one. I had a mango, in good condition with spots on it! I grow mint leaves, dry fruits are always there in stock, the Makaibari organic tea leaves I did get from Kolkata this time! Why cannot I combine them & get a healthy ice lolly / baraf gola? How I enjoyed one already!

ORGANIC TEA MANGO ICED LOLLY is a vegan, gluten-free fresh fruit and organic Darjeeling tea iced treat flavoured with fresh mint. I would want it on my dessert bowl any day, what about you?

INGREDIENTS :

RIPE MANGO : 1 STANDARD SIZED

TEA LEAVES : 1 TBSP [I USED MAKAIBARI ORGANIC LEAF TEA]

FRESH MINT LEAF : A HANDFUL

HONEY : 2 TSP [YOU CAN USE SUGAR]

PISTACHIO : 6-8

PROCEDURE :

Initially, I thought I would not use even honey to sweeten; these Thai Honey variety of Mango are quite sweet. Later I felt, adding a bit would get the right taste!

I had taken the tea leaves in a pot, added hot water to it, about a coffee mug or more & covered with a plate!

I microwaved the pistachios for about 30 seconds at the lowest heat, I am allergic to raw nuts. 

I added the mango pulp, washed mint leaves, honey, pistachios into the blender and blended into a paste.

The tea leaves went down by now and the tea is ready to be used! I added a little over half coffee mug of it to the mango paste, passing through a strainer; blended again together at high!

Thereafter, I poured the mixture to few cups, placed an ice-cream stick in each one, just in the middle and kept in the freezer overnight!

About 3-4 hours of freezing works but I kept overnight! Tear the glasses and enjoy! They tasted  great!