Caribbean Food: The Academy Awards

by Angeli 

My caribbean food friends, I need your help.

I have a special recipe that i created some time ago. It’s for a refreshing summer drink that i love and make often. But I’ve never named it.

Please could you vote, in the comments section below, for one of the three potential names. Or, even better, if after reading the recipe you have an alternative then please comment. I’ll leave the post for a few days then announce the final result. So, in my best ‘Academy Awards’ voice… the nominations are:

1/ Citrus Cooler

2/ Zesty Zinger

3/ Golden Haze

4/ … or your alternative :-)

INGREDIENTS

Pic by AdambaronPhoto

Pic by AdambaronPhoto

4 unwaxed lemons
10 unwaxed limes
1 green tea bag!
Fresh ginger – when chopped weighs approx 20z (50g)
Approx 1/2in (1 cm) square red scotch bonnet (you may want to leave this out if making for children)
1 cup (8 oz,  250g) White granulated sugar
1/2 cup  (4 oz,  125g) cup Brown Demerra cane sugar
1 1/2 qt water ( 3pts, 1.5litres )

You will need:
Medium cut grater – not too fine
Medium cooking pot – big enough to hold 1 pt (1/2 qt,  500 ml) water.
Large bowl big enough to take 3 pts of liquid (1 1/2 qt, 1.5 litres)
Large and small spoons
Knife
Jugs /bottles for finished drink

First Peel and roughly chop the ginger and  wash the fruit.
Make a sugar syrup by placing all the sugar and ginger and the pepper into cooking pot.
Pour in 1 pt (500 ml, 1/2 qt) water, place on a gentle heat, stirring constantly until all sugar is melted and water is about to start boiling.
Take off the heat and set aside with all the bits  left  in.
Boil another pint of water and pour into a jug containing the green tea bag – leaving it to infuse for approx 3-5mins.
Stir, take out tea bag and set aside. Tea bags are better – less mess:)

Take Approx 5 limes and 3 lemons and grate skin into  a large bowl – taking care not to grate the white pith as well.
Cut the fruit in half, take the halves and squeeze all the juice out into the bowl.
Once done, take all the lime halves and place in bowl also.

Into the bowl containing the lemon/lime halves, squeezed juice, and grated peel;  pour  in the remaining pint,(500 ml 1/2 qt) water from your reservoir ,then  the  unstrained syrup water , and finally, the green tea. Stir all the elements together and put aside to cool. (I usually leave mine overnight in the fridge for the flavours to develop). Once Cooled, add water to taste and  strain off into jugs or bottles. Serve very cold with lots of ice – it is Delicious. My caribbean food friends and family love it!!

Variations:

Add sliced strawberries, cucumbers, and sprigs of fresh mint together with  approx 8 oz (1 cup 250ml) Ginger wine,  a good splash of dark caribbean rum, and a few drops of Angostura bitters  for a Pimms alternative.

Add approx 1/4 cup(60 ml, 3 oz) of 70% proof white caribbean rum for a HOT! HOT! HOT! carnival experience.

There you have it my friends

Love, Laughter, and Food for all

Angeli x

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Comments

33 Responses to “Caribbean Food: The Academy Awards”

  1. Margit on July 6th, 2009 1:54 pm

    My vote for #1 as it is an apt description and sounds nice and refreshing.

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Margit – hope you enjoy the recipe! :)

  2. Foodopia on July 6th, 2009 1:56 pm

    Hmmm…they are all good names, but I really like Golden Haze. Sounds very summer-y!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thanks for that will put that in the pot…..

  3. EssexGourmet on July 6th, 2009 2:13 pm

    The recipe looks fabulous… I would call it ‘Citrus Buzz’ and would add vodka or white rum, because I’m a lush like that….

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Sarah!! Thanks for the comments – if you’re going to add white rum – I would recommend the 70% proof caribbean rum…..

  4. Johnonfood on July 6th, 2009 2:26 pm

    I’d call it a “spicy scitrus slap”.

    I agree with essexgourmet about the vodka. Does that make me a lush?

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Loving the play on words john, tell me how you got on with the recipe….

  5. Lorraine on July 6th, 2009 2:33 pm

    So many of my favorite ingredients–sounds delicious.

    I like Golden Haze–especially when spirits are added.

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Lorraine – I’ve found it very refreshing – must be all that Vit C – thanks for the vote, make it and enjoy….

  6. paul c on July 6th, 2009 8:08 pm

    Hmm… Not really #1 with that scotch bonnet.
    #2 possibly as it sounds like a bit of a zinger, but that sounds too KFC…
    I think EssexGourmet has it with the Citrus Buzz, but can’t resist the spicy citrus slap either – brilliant!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Paul for that comment – will count that as two votes then…..:)

  7. Dianne on July 6th, 2009 8:08 pm

    I like number 1! Sounds fresh and delicious!

    Thanks Dianne. Try it at your next bbq and see how you get on…..

  8. manatisalas on July 6th, 2009 8:12 pm

    My vote goes to golden haze; and I would add rum to it too! Sounds really good

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Brillliant! I hope you enjoy it – don’t forget, it has to be authentic caribbean rum, I would recommend Appletons, but any good quality rum will do….

  9. Mimi Johnson on July 6th, 2009 8:27 pm

    I like Golden Haze.

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Mimi, hope you try the recipe and tell me your thoughts…..

  10. Curiousoup on July 6th, 2009 8:35 pm

    Citrus Buss is nice if it was a vodka drink, however Zesty Zinger really peaks my curiosity and is a nice play on words

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Thankyou!! Will go with Zesty Zinger then….

  11. Anthony on July 6th, 2009 8:42 pm

    Icy Hot Chiller? Because of the habanero pepper.
    Zesty Chiller

    Of the established 3 I choose Citrus Chiller/Cooler

    Although Spicy Citrus slap sounds like a great name for a fat shot drink.
    Definitely going to try this one.

    Thanks for asking for help.

    And in return, I’ve made a syrup to flavor lattes & also works for iced tea and added to seltzer water makes a good home made ginger ale. I am also looking for a name.

    Ingredients list:
    cracked, ground & crystallized ginger
    dried orange zest
    thyme
    tarragon

    ANGELI SAY:

    Thankyou for taking the time to read my blog – hope you do try it. A name for your flava – SPICED SWIRL?

  12. Leslie on July 6th, 2009 9:17 pm

    I like “Zesty Zinger” – sounds yummy!

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Hi Leslie, Loving the Photo – it does make a difference seeing someone. Thanks for the vote, tell me how you got on with the recipe….

  13. Ana Franco on July 6th, 2009 9:24 pm

    I vote for Zesty Zinger!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thanks for that Ana – Zesty Zinger it is!!

  14. BlkCake on July 6th, 2009 9:41 pm

    Golden Haze for sure.

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Okay, let me know how the recipe tasted when you make it…..

  15. DionGeBorde on July 6th, 2009 10:03 pm

    I definitely think Citrus in the name is the way to go. But based on the ginger & green tea, it seems to make for more of a “Buzz” or “Scitrus Slap” than “Cooler.” I’d go with Spicy Scitrus Slap. Kudos Johnonfood!

    I’m game for anything that adds alcohol; call me what you will! ;-)

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thanks for that Dion, try it with the ginger wine and rum variation, it really does taste better than pimms in my opinion….

  16. Zahavah/Gayle on July 6th, 2009 10:04 pm

    Looks like a good recipe – I want to see a pic of the finished drink! Sounds to me like its the ginger and scotch bonnet(both spices) mixed with lemon/lime that make it carribbean and unique, so I’d want to play that up. When I think of the carribbean, I think of music, steel drums, etc – a beat.so maybe something like spicy citrus beat? It still has the alliteration. I’m just thinking out loud here…

    Oooh…what about spicy citrus splash? Gives it that ocean feel too!

    I too vote for the add of rum.

    Ok, enough pontificating!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Okay, make the drink and give me your thoughts on the result… I will take spicy citrus splash as your vote :) …

  17. Caribbean Food: The Academy Awards | mycaribbeanfood.com | Ace Card's Caribbean Vacation on July 7th, 2009 3:52 am

    [...] here to read the rest: Caribbean Food: The Academy Awards | mycaribbeanfood.com academy, caribbean-food, categories, citrus, copyright, drinks, friends, golden-haze, green, [...]

  18. Mudslide Mama on July 7th, 2009 4:46 am

    I like Golden Haze; to me, the Zesty Zinger one sounds too much like a Celestial Seasonings herbal tea. :) Golden Haze sounds so…summery. I really like it!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    I have tried that range of drinks, they’re not bad! I will take Golden Haze as your vote. Thanks for taking the time to read and join in :)

  19. alicia on July 7th, 2009 4:48 am

    I like 2 ZESTY ZINGER

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Alicia, hope you enjoy the recipe.!

  20. missmallory on July 7th, 2009 5:33 am

    Golden Haze for sure.

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Thankyou for your response missy! what do you think of the drink?…. :)

  21. anne on July 7th, 2009 8:39 am

    Gotta be Zesty Zinger for me!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thanks Anne :)

  22. Barbara on July 7th, 2009 9:35 am

    Another vote for Citrus Cooler

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou for taking the time Barbara, now tell me what you thought of the drink – with, or without alcohol?…

  23. Patty on July 7th, 2009 9:41 am

    I love Zesty Zinger (lemon zest & ginger) brilliant!

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Patty – Zesty Zinger it is!

  24. deb on July 7th, 2009 11:58 am

    Golden Haze does it for me; sounds summery. Although I like all three names; perhaps zesty and citrus sound a bit acidic?

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Okay, I was thinking of something that gives a kick…..

  25. stosie on July 7th, 2009 12:17 pm

    Hot house calypso or if not Golden haze

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thanks Stosie, Hot house calypso – my feet are dancing already to the beat of the Zing!!!

  26. El on July 7th, 2009 12:36 pm

    Citrus cooler.

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Thankyou! Hope you enjoy the recipe :)

  27. Patty on July 7th, 2009 12:47 pm

    I love Zesty Zinger (lemon zest & ginger) brilliant!
    Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

    ANGELI SAYS:
    Thanks again – but that’s still one vote for you :)

  28. Darrell on July 7th, 2009 1:19 pm

    Golden Haze is my choice

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thankyou Darrell!

  29. Jen on July 7th, 2009 10:07 pm

    I’m a fun of the golden haze. Sounds nummy.

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Thanks Jen – hope to see you here again :)

  30. Sabera on July 7th, 2009 10:11 pm

    Golden Haze for sure. Sound exotic and psychedelic. :-)

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Welcome Sabera! Tell me what you think of the drink….. :)

  31. Gerald on July 7th, 2009 11:52 pm

    Sounds very refreshing. Like a cool breeze or nice shower.. now lets see….

    Golden Breeze? Golden Shower? hmm…. maybe not.

    ANGELI SAYS:

    Hmmm lets not go there….

  32. Mamaliga on August 13th, 2009 4:54 pm

    Angeli! My vote is for #2 Zesty Zinger or rather ‘double Z’ maybe or ZeeZee??

    cheers!

    Gabi @ Mamaliga

  33. Margaret on August 13th, 2009 7:11 pm

    I vote to add some Mount Gai rum and call it Limin’ Limone…..

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