BBQ and Sweet Leaf Tea, a perfect pair for summertime fun
By Guest on Aug 24 Filed In Austin, Texas Add a Comment
Gloria Corral here – BBQ and Sweet Leaf Tea enthusiast, granny, and author of Barbecue Lover’s Guide to Austin. Now, if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that Sweet Leaf Tea and BBQ make a great pair to satisfy those summertime cravings. Luckily, Austin has the best BBQ around, and is the hometown of Sweet Leaf Tea.
Last Saturday afternoon, our family was invited to view the premier showing of the new Spy Kids 4 movie at the Long Center here in Austin. Our next-door neighbor is a member of the Rodriguez clan and a co-producer of the movie, so we were very excited to attend. We all looked forward to the big day, which was complete with a carnival on the plaza after the film! Spy Kids 4 was a hit, with lots of action and special effects that kept everyone, young and old, entertained. Robert Rodriguez, the producer/director, introduced the cast afterwards to loud cheers from the many family members in the audience. An only-in-Austin treat!
It was dinnertime after the carnival and everyone was hungry. When we have the pleasure of eating dinner with our grandchildren, we like to let them choose the place. They selected Whole Foods Market. I like that option because we can have Bowie BBQ’s great smoky meat and Sweet Leaf Tea, the perfect pair. Luckily, the coolers at Whole Foods have a big selection of Sweet Leaf Teas. My grandchildren wanted pizza and the must-have Sweet Leaf Lemonade, so my son-in-law rounded up the drinks buying all of the flavors he could find. We embarked on our first Sweet Leaf Tea tasting session, family style.
I always drink Mint and Honey but agreed to try some new-to-me flavors. I went for Citrus and it’s now my new favorite. The boys wanted the Raspberry and Peach. The men went for Sweet Leaf Tea Original and Lemon & Lime Unsweetened. We shared a round and drank on. Of course, big debates and hoarding of favorites ensued. The kids wanted to keep all the bottle caps with their catchy food-for-thought phrases for their collection, arguing over whose was whose and whose was best. “Dance as though no one is watching,” “You’ll catch more flies with honey,” “Keep your chin up,” “Everything in moderation including moderation.” “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” “All things grow with love,” and “Turn that frown upside-down.”
With our tummies full of BBQ, pizza and drinks, and the bottles safely in the recycle bin, we headed for home with visions of Sweet Leaf Tea dancing in our heads.
-Gloria Corral
@bbqloversguide
