JOURNAL

It may have taken until the end of January, but winter has finally hit NYC. The Bellocq tea shop is just around the corner from the Design*Sponge office in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, but it was cold enough on Wednesday that Max and I were completely bundled up (there may have been some shrieking when the wind hit our faces) and ready for some hot tea. Since I’ve given up coffee, Bellocq has quickly become my favorite spot to visit. (See our tea shop tour here.) I’m always learning about a new way to use tea. (On my last visit, founder Heidi Johannsen Stewart taught me to add a little lapsang souchong to soup when it needs extra body.) So when we were looking for a drink that was warm and alcohol-free, we turned to Heidi. Heidi is absolutely passionate about tea, and she came up with a delicious tea recipe that is a little fancier than just dunking a tea bag in hot water. — Amy Azzarito

Bellocq Hibiscus-Ginger Warmer 
Makes two 8-ounce drinks

Hibiscus is wonderfully refreshing and tart (and caffeine-free). The extra boost of vitamin C helps to bolster the immune system against the onslaught of winter colds and flus.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 3/4 cups water
• 4 inches fresh ginger, chopped
• peel of 1 clementine
• 3 tablespoons Bellocq hibiscus tea
• rosewater, to taste

Preparation

1. Put the sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the ginger and clementine peel and remove from heat. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes. (The ginger-clementine simple syrup may be prepared up to a week ahead of time and stored in an airtight container.)

2. Bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil, add hibiscus tea and steep for 6 to 10 minutes. Strain the hibiscus and discard.

3. Add 4 to 6 tablespoons (or to taste) of the ginger-clementine syrup to the hibiscus tea. Divide between two generous mugs. Add rosewater, about 1 teaspoon or to taste.

4. Garnish with a slice of clementine peel.

Link to original article: Design*Sponge

Pop-in and visit Bellocq Tea Atelier at the 2013 New York International Gift Fair! You will find us in Booth 3954 within the "Accent On Design" section of the show! We are part of the Aesthetic Movement booth.

Hope to see you! xoxo

Bellocq was recently visited by the lovely team from Design*Sponge (Grace Bonney, Amy Azzarito and Max Tielman). The resulting flavors, conversations and images became two features which were both wonderful experiences for all of us at Bellocq.

The first feature is a photo essay about the Bellocq Tea Atelier in Brooklyn, New York.   Link:  Design*Sponge