AIP rooibos peach tea float with coconut ice cream, treat drink

Not every recipe on this protocol needs to be about repair. Some of them are just here to make a hot afternoon feel like a party, and this one, a peach soda poured over a scoop of vanilla, does exactly that.

Rooibos anchors the base because it holds no caffeine and sits easily within AIP, unlike black or green tea. Fresh peaches blend right into the steeped tea for flavor and for a dose of vitamin C, which plays a role in collagen formation and the ordinary tissue repair your body runs every day, and a spoon of honey with a splash of lemon rounds out the sweetness.

The float only works if the ice cream is actually clean. Read the label on whatever coconut-based vanilla you buy: plenty of them are made with seed oils or gums that do not belong here. Peaches can run high in histamine for some people, so the first time you make this, pour a small glass and notice how you feel.

Pour the soda over the ice cream while it is still cold and let it foam up past the rim. A treat you can trust is still a treat.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp rooibos tea leaves
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 medium peaches, pitted and chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups sparkling water
• 4 scoops coconut-based vanilla ice cream (clean, dairy-free)

Method

Steep the rooibos leaves in the boiling water for about 5 minutes, then strain out the leaves. Stir in the honey while the tea is still warm so it dissolves, then let the tea cool to room temperature.

Add the cooled tea, the chopped peaches, and the lemon juice to a blender and blend smooth. Strain out the pulp into a pitcher or bowl, then fold in the sparkling water gently so you keep the fizz.

Set a scoop of coconut vanilla ice cream into each of 4 glasses and pour the peach tea soda over the top. Serve right away, while it is cold and foaming.

A note on the technique

The trick of fruit blended with tea and topped with sparkling water makes a homemade soda from any fruit you like. Once you have made it with peaches, the same method carries you through the seasons.

*Adapted from acleanplate.com*