One of my favorite things is tea, especially iced tea on a warm, sunny day
lately, with mango season coming in to full time...
I take a hefty bag on my morning walks with my dogs down the road...
and to the river where there is an old dam of long ago time...
where there are many mango trees growing from the old fruit plantation of years gone by...
that still produce lots of mangoes for anyone who wants to pick them
children from up the mountain like to come down and shake the mangoes from the trees...
saving me the work of trying to reach the fruit from high branches
these old tall mango trees grow all along the river banks on both sides
I know of at least 5 varieties that have filled my bags each morning...
in the last couple of weeks
usually, I pick them from off the ground as there are enough to give me more than...well, enough
it isn't hard to find between 25 to 40 mangoes each day and truly...
they make a bag heavy that I have to carry back up the hill to bring home
I have had to make a second trip for all of them just so my arms don't leave their sockets...
with the weight of too many mangoes in a bag
and if you are wondering what I do with all these mangoes...
some I save for ourselves; the green ones I put aside to ripen for later;
and most go to the cows who really do love them
a few go to the chickens who run in a hurry to get to them before they are gone
and then, there is mango tea
I have seen mango flavored teas in the supermarket but...
it just isn't the same as making it oneself from the real thing
I peel and grate the mango fruit down to the seed
put a heaping teaspoon of black tea in a cup
and stir in hot water to steep for at least 15 minutes...
then, strain into a glass and let cool
when I'm ready to drink the tea...
plenty of ice cubes go into the glass and 2 teaspoons of raw honey to sweeten
truly, this is refreshing and awfully good
May your day or night find refreshment in the grace of the Lord.
