FROZEN BERRY WATERMELON SMOOTHIE

Abundance of fresh fruit is one of the reasons summer has always been my favourite season. Summer berries are one of life's simple pleasures that will never be outshone.

This lovely crimson smoothie is full of sweet watermelon, mixed berries, and tea. Delicate white tea and just a simple drop of vanilla transform this from a simple smoothie into a true summer dessert dream.

I usually serve my smoothies partially frozen, by freezing them for about 20-30 minutes, and then blending them again. That way, they resemble a sumptuous cross between a sweet summer smoothie and a granita.

Taste the smoothie before freezing it briefly; depending on your taste, you may need to add a spoonful of maple syrup or even raw honey, if you are not making it vegan.

Ingredients
400 grams fresh watermelon
100 grams strawberries
100 grams raspberries
50 grams blueberries
50 grams redcurrants
50 grams sour cherries
50 grams forest strawberries
½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 tablespoon loose leaf white tea
300 ml cold water
1 tablespoon maple syrup, optional

Preparation

Start by preparing the white tea. Heat 300 ml of water until it just comes to a boil, and then pour it over the loose white tea. Place the lid on the cup where the tea will be steeped, and let it steep for 5 minutes. After about 5 minutes, strain the tea and place the cup into a larger container of cold water, to help it chill quicker, since it needs to be cold.

When the tea is cold, place the chopped watermelon in a large blender, and blend it briefly. Add in all of the berries, and the vanilla, and blend again. Finally, pour in the cold white tea, scrape the sides, and blend until smooth. If using the maple syrup, add it, and let the blender run until smooth. Either serve it immediately, or let the smoothie batter freeze slightly, and serve it partially frozen. Yields 4 generous servings.