Time flies ! It's hard to believe that little Prince George will be two months old tomorrow. I was reading a newspaper article yesterday that said that he is already the most influential person in London, which is pretty good going for someone so small !
To celebrate the new prince, PG tips developed a ‘royal-tea cup’ cocktail. Working with Rebecca Seal, drinks expert from Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, the Fruit Cup style cocktail took inspiration straight from the royal wedding day to combine details from Kate & William’s nuptials with quintessentially English ingredients, resulting in a rich and refreshing tipple packed full of Britishness that is ideal served in dainty tea cups.
- Strawberries – as a major crop in Cambridgeshire, these summery English berries are perfect to include as part of a royal celebration
- Rose petals - two new rose bushes were named after the happy couple and planted in the grounds of Windsor Castle and sugar roses were used to decorate their eight-tier wedding cake
- Sparkling wine – English sparkling wine was served to guests at the bride and groom’s wedding breakfast
- PG tips The Rich One – like red wine, all tea contains tannins, which gives drinks a wonderfully rich flavour. PG tips The Rich One is used for its full-bodied taste
- Gin – a quintessentially British ingredient and, according to Rebecca Seal, the botanicals used to make gin (like juniper) perfectly complement the flavours in tea
- Cucumber - from a dainty finger sandwich at traditional afternoon tea
- Apple juice - from the fruit trees of the great British orchards
- Elderflower – from the hedgerows that line England’s green and pleasant land
- Mint - from English country gardens
The lovely people at PG Tips sent us through the ingredients so that we could give it a try. Here's the recipe which makes 10-12 teacups or 6-8 longer drinks :
Ingredients:
6 British strawberries with the core removed
A handful of fresh mint leaves, ripped
100ml freshly boiled water
1 PG tips The Rich One teabag
75g sugar
50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 ½ lemons)
½ an unwaxed lemon's rind, peeled and chopped
15ml elderflower cordial
100ml English apple juice
200-400ml gin
350ml soda water or sparkling water
350ml English sparkling wine (or cava)
For non-alcoholic punch:
Omit the gin and sparkling wine and use 150ml apple juice and 550ml soda water instead
Garnish:
Lots of fresh ice in big chunks
Slices of cucumber skin
Rose petals
Slices of strawberries
Method:
Step 1: In a pestle and mortar, roughly crush the strawberries and mint leaves together
Step 2: Mix the crushed mint and strawberries with the hot water, PG tips The Rich One teabag, sugar, lemon juice and rind then stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Leave to stand for 8-10 minutes, then strain, reserving the syrup
Step 3: In a large bowl or jug, mix the syrup with the elderflower, apple juice and gin to taste. (The mix can be chilled for a few hours at this point until ready to serve.)
Step 4: When ready to serve, add large blocks of ice, the soda water and sparkling wine. Stir gently to combine
Step 5: To serve, line teacups with a sliver of cucumber skin, shaved using a potato peeler, then fill the cup with fresh ice. Serve using a ladle
Step 6: Garnish with a red rose petal and a slice of strawberry in the shape of a heart
Cheers my dears ! It may not be a delicate teacup but it is a commemorative Prince George mug, which I thought was rather fitting !
Disclosure : PG Tips sent me through the ingredients so that I could try out the cocktail.
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