When you think of punch, two things usually come to mind. The first is the typical, artificial red drink with only a scarce fraction of actual juice and a boatload of sugar. The other is the alternative to beer served at adult parties, with an indiscernible sweet flavor you can barely make out over the bite of plastic bottle liquor. Believe it or not, punch (originally panch), is the Hindustani word for five. The traditional five ingredient drink contained alcohol, lemon, sugar, water and tea or spices. In anticipation of National Punch day, we decided to explore the world of punch to find our favorite celebratory version for the festive day.

Since National Punch day lands on a Thursday, we decided on a non-alcoholic version so we could get festive and still make it to work on Friday. We wanted to integrate loose leaf tea because, in our opinion, tea makes everything at least a little bit tastier! After taste testing quite a few different tea punches, we landed on this Honey Orange Hibiscus Punch. Not only was it a breeze to make, it was so flavorful and fresh, we knew we couldn’t top it. With a combination of orange blossom honey syrup, fresh orange juice, and hibiscus, this punch is equal parts refreshing and autumnal. We love it! It isn’t too sweet or too tart, and that dash of fizziness from the sparkling water screams party!

We hope you celebrate National Punch Day by trying out this fun recipe! Report your findings in the comments below.

YIELD: Makes 5 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 cups – boiling water

1/2 cup Organic Hibiscus

1 1/4 cup – Orange Blossom Honey Syrup

1 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice

2 1/2 cups of sparkling water

1 bunch fresh mint leaves

orange peel garnish

ice cubes

For Orange Blossom Honey Syrup:

1 cup – orange blossom honey

1/4 cup – hot water

DIRECTIONS

• Pour boiling water over the hibiscus, cover, and allow to steep for 30 minutes. During this time, make the orange blossom honey syrup. In a saucepan, slowly bring honey and water to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool. Strain hibiscus into 2-quart pitcher; add the orange blossom honey syrup, orange juice, and cold water; stir.
• Pour 10 ounces of the punch into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes and 2 to 3 mint leaves; close tightly and shake. Pour and garnish with orange peel and fresh mint leaves. Serve!

As Labor Day approaches, cookouts are the perfect activity to kick back with family and friends. The recipes of summer should be fresh, bright and juicy. As relentless coffee lovers, we sought to find a way to fuse our favorite ingredient into the mix with this delicious coffee rub.

Why coffee? Believe it or not, in this rub, coffee does not yield any bitterness. It adds a rich complexity to the sweet and salty kick you get from its other ingredients. We experimented with roast level and settled on a French Roast for its robust flavor. When selecting your bean of choice, take into account that the darker the roast, the stronger the flavor. The ideal grind size is the same as what you brew in your Autodrip pot. The grounds have just enough surface area to contribute flavor without dominating by sticking to the meat more than the other spices.

Coffee makes a truly unique seasoning. Adding the bold, earthy flavor of a ground dark roast to sweet and savory spices will make any steak sizzle. This warm, zesty rub goes with just about anything, but it doesn’t get any better than on your favorite cut of juicy steak. Whether you’re manning the grill, prepping the food, or buying the ingredients, you’ll be the barbeque boss once you break out this spiced, tangy rub!

Try it out this Labor Day. Let us know any modifications you made and how it turned out in the comments below!

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons finely ground dark roasted coffee beans (regular or decaf)
• 5 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1½ teaspoons black pepper
• 1½ teaspoons ground coriander
• 1½ teaspoons ground mustard
• ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 of your favorite cuts of beef

RECIPE PREPARATION

• In a small bowl, whisk all of the dry seasonings until evenly blended.
• Rub mixture evenly on all sides of the ribeye steaks (approximately 5 tsp. per steak) and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat grillon high heat.

Grill 4-6 minutes per side for medium-rare or longer to taste.

You can’t call it summer without sun, sand and, of course, sweet tea. There is no greater icon of vacation mode: the sweaty, frosted glass and the soft clink of ice cubes as you draw your first icy, mouth-watering sip. Sweet tea is both a treat and a staple of summer. In some regions of the country, it is guzzled like water. In others, it is a novelty consumed with cozy, home-style cuisine. Upon deeper analysis, we discovered that all the claims to the best sweet tea involved a secret recipe, and we delved into the ultimate mission: to crack the code of the sweet tea secret.

In 1795, the first tea plantations in the United States arrived in South Carolina. Today, there are still a few left in the state. Popping up in the 19^th Century, the first sweet tea “punches” incorporated green tea and a heavy-handed pour of booze. The switch to black tea began in the late 1800’s when the refreshing drink became more like the modern-day version, preferably garnished with a slice of lemon, sweetened with sugar, poured over broken ice.

While you can’t visit a rest stop or convenience store without being bombarded by an influx of flavored and traditional sweet tea options, this wasn’t always the case. Sweet tea came on the market in the early 20^th century, specifically the Saint Louis World’s Fair of 1904. The oppressive heat inspired the quest for cold drinks, and the complimentary hot tea being given out at the fairgrounds was served over ice. The chilled version of this “ice tea” was a smash hit for fairgoers. It soon made its way into department stores as the signature drink for shoppers nationwide!

Searching for the best sweet tea recipe, we encountered a whole lot of “secret” ingredients and brewing methods. We decided to take matters into our own hands and perfect our own recipe to put out for the whole world to enjoy! We’re here to take the secret out of this southern treat. Give it a whirl and let us know what you think!

• Use loose leaf tea – it is of higher quality than most tea bags and tastes better! Tea bags use fannings and dust, the leftover bits of tea once the good loose leaf stuff is used. Try our Iced Tea blend, Organic Keemun, or Orange Pekoe!
• Use an iced tea pitcher, such as our Mist Iced Tea Pitcher. All you have to do is add your loose leaf tea directly inside the pitcher, then add filtered water! The filter at the top of the pitcher will keep tea leaves from reaching your glass. With the Mist Iced Tea Pitcher, there are is a cold and hot brew method.
• Add 7-10 tsp loose leaf tea to the 50oz pitcher
• Gently pour 2 cups hot water first, then 4 cups cold water
• Place pitcher in fridge. Steep 2 – 6 hours.
• Voila! Pour and serve!
• Garnish with a lemon slice and mint sprig.

It’s summertime, so we decided to play guinea pig to bring you the best iced coffee out there. As popular as this classic continues to be, iced coffee often alternates between watery and mouth puckering bitterness. Our goal was to create a cup solid enough to graduate from trend to timeless classic. We believe, when properly brewed, iced coffee may be the star of the coffee world. Not only can it be simple to prepare, (which we love, especially pre-caffeine) but it is the perfect refreshing treat to beat the heat.

Filtered water should be used to brew a double strength batch of coffee to start.  Flash brew iced coffee (aka ice brew) is made in a pour over (such as Hario or Chemex), but you don’t have to get all fancy if you don’t want to. You can make your iced coffee in an autodrip brewer too! Throw coffee ice cubes in to minimize dilution. Ta-da! A no-fuss, clean, crisp cup in minutes.

Homemade iced coffee is easy to make, but the right brewing method can preserve the nuances of the beans while other brewing methods can dull or neutralize their subtle flavor notes. The right iced coffee should be way less high maintenance than it tastes. We love a good shortcut and, finally, our resourcefulness pays off. All hail the perfect iced coffee, right from your very own kitchen! Check out our easy recipes and let us know what you think in the comments.

You may not know this, but August is National Coffee Month. Our world revolves around coffee and we’re not alone. Whether it’s brewed in a French press, autodrip machine, or espresso maker, your favorite brew is undeniably a centerpiece of life. Coffee brings people together, and for National Coffee Month, we wanted to bring you some recipes to make your get-togethers extra-special!

In celebration, we took it to the next level by freezing, blending, shaking, and mixing our hearts out to bring you these tasty warm weather treats. Here are our favorite concoctions, tested on our guinea pigs (aka employees) for your enjoyment.

For Coffee Buffs:

No-Churn Coffee Fudge Ice Cream

Nothing says summer quite like ice cream, and this no-churn treat is like bringing your local creamery home.

Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles

This treat fuses a strong blast of coffee, creamy sweetened condensed milk, and a velvety vanilla finish.

Dark Moon Cocktail

A coffee cocktail with a bold, heavy body. Brew a big batch and make any occasion more festive!

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Coffee is the secret ingredient in this luscious, indulgent treat.

Chocolate Lovers Coffee Shake

A fudgy, creamy dessert (or meal!) – perfect for cheat day

Affogato

This simple 2-ingredient summer treat keeps your taste buds guessing with blasts of creamy, cold gelato and steamy espresso.

For Tea Enthusiasts:

Iced Chai Bubble Tea

We love a little texture in our tea! The tapioca pearls make this spicy, sweet treat one of a kind.

Watermelon Mimosa Green Tea Popsicles

The refreshment of iced green tea meets sweet, juicy watermelon flavor. A sweet, tart way to cool down in the heat!

Jasmine Honey Tea Granita

A simple, flowery homemade dessert with a sweet, refreshing flavor

Tea Sangria

Brew up a tangy, fruity glass of this fresh, warm weather cocktail.

Rum and Lemon Ginger Green Tea

A refreshing, bubbly twist on the traditional Dark and Stormy