Berry Berry Recipe

Prepare dried fruit

If your raisins are whole and large, chop them roughly so they distribute evenly in the blend. Chop dried apple pieces into small dice if using. Measure the black and red currants and set aside.

Combine base ingredients

In a large, dry mixing bowl, combine the dried hibiscus petals (1.5 cups), rosehip chips (0.5 cup), black currants (0.5 cup), red currants (0.25 cup), chopped raisins (0.5 cup), and dried apple pieces (0.5 cup, if using). Stir gently with a spoon to mix evenly.

Add flavor and finishing touches

If using natural flavorings, add 1 teaspoon of liquid berry flavor and 1/4 teaspoon citrus flavor to the blend. Sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon citric acid if you want extra bright tartness. Add the cornflower or rose petals (2 tablespoons) for visual appeal. Mix thoroughly so the liquid flavoring is distributed; let the mixture rest in an open container for 1–2 hours so any alcohol or carrier evaporates, then reseal.

Store the blend

Transfer the blended tea to an airtight container, store in a cool, dark place. Use within 6–9 months for best flavor (shorter if natural flavors were added).

Measure 2 teaspoons of the prepared Berry Berry tea blend into an infuser, tea ball, or teapot.

Heat fresh water to just off boiling (about 200–205°F / 93–96°C).

Pour 8 fl oz (about 240 ml) of hot water over the tea blend.

Steep for 5–8 minutes. Steeping 5 minutes yields a lighter tartness and more fruitiness; steeping up to 8 minutes produces a deeper hibiscus color and pronounced tartness. Stir or swirl once during steeping to help extract flavors evenly.

Remove the infuser or strain the tea into a cup. Taste and sweeten if desired with approximately 1 teaspoon honey or sugar, or adjust to taste. Add a lemon slice as garnish if desired.

For iced tea: double the tea quantity (4 tsp per 16 fl oz) or brew a concentrated batch (use 1.5–2× tea to water), cool to room temperature, then refrigerate and serve over ice. Adjust sweetness while warm so it dissolves evenly.

To make a larger batch: scale all blend ingredients proportionally. Example: for a 4× batch, multiply each ingredient in the Tea Blend section by 4.

If you prefer a caffeine lift, add 1 part black tea (broken leaves) to 10 parts of the Berry Berry blend when brewing; reduce steep time to 3–4 minutes to prevent bitterness.

Adjust natural flavorings sparingly—start with the suggested amounts and add more only after a test brew, as concentrated flavorings can overpower the delicate fruit and hibiscus notes.