18 Jul Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Sipsong Indira Tea

With the summer heat, when I am looking for a refreshing and simple cocktail, I turn to a Gin & Tonic. Made with only two ingredients, gin and tonic, it is a crisp, botanical drink that can be enhanced by using fruit and vegetable garnishes that accentuate the gin flavor. But, sometimes as much as I enjoy the flavors of a Gin & Tonic, I need a break from imbibing alcohol. Luckily, with the Sipsong Indira Tea, I can enjoy all flavors of a gin drink without the alcohol and that is why it is the Please The Palate pick of the week. Sipsong, which means to follow your intuition, your inner wisdom, was founded by Tara Jasper. A Sonoma County native, Tara grew up foraging the hills and redwood forests surrounding the Russian River. These ingredients were the inspiration for her award winning wine country crafted Sipsong Spirits Indira Gin. Made with 13 botanicals, the small batch gin has notes of juniper, coriander, cumin, angelica root, Moroccan sweet orange, bay, lavender, lime, hibiscus with a pink peppercorn finish. When this gin is mixed into a cocktail, it adds complexity to the flavor. Sipsong Indira Tea, an alcohol-free botanical tea, has all the lovely aromatics, as well as the complexity, of the gin. After steeping the tea for 24 hours to make a cold brew tea, it can be used as a base with tonic water and bitters. I added Fever Tree tonic water and a slice of lime. I loved the herbaceous and citrus aromas which carry through onto the palate. As I sipped my drink, I forgot there was no alcohol in it as it really tasted like a Gin & Tonic. If you are looking for a drink that is flavorful but without alcohol, try the Sipsong Indira Tea. The tea is completely herbal and has no caffeine. There are no sweeteners, preservatives or calories. In addition to being good for you, it is also good for the environment as it is packaged without plastic. And, if you need more of a reason to purchase Sipsong Indira Tea (or Sipsong Indira Gin), then know that Tara uses her brand to fund a range of philanthropic platforms – from breast cancer research (she was diagnosed last year), empowerment and entrepreneurship support for minority groups (women and people of color); healthcare and education. Enjoy a cocktail every night with the alcohol-free Sipsong Indira Tea. A 52g container of Sipsong Indira Tea costs $17.99 and one container makes four 750ml bottles worth! You can also get a Brew Kit for $14.99 which includes a 32oz widemouth glass Mason jar, a fine mesh stainless steel filter core and a leak-proof lid, all of which are dishwasher safe.