Chapter 5 Preparing Simple Recipes 95 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Some of the plants used in herbal teas can cause allergic reactions. Some herbal teas can also interact with certain medications. When purchasing herbal teas, choose commercial brands. Avoid herbal mixtures that claim to have special health or medic- inal properties. Check with a healthcare provider if you have concerns or questions. Red tea, also known as rooibos (ROY-boss), is brewed from an herb grown in South Africa. It has an amber color and is naturally caffeine-free (Figure 5.8). Preparing Tea You can purchase tea in teabags or in loose form. To prepare either form of tea, begin by rinsing a clean teapot or cup with boiling water to preheat it. Place a teabag or loose tea in the preheated pot or cup. (Place loose tea directly in the bottom of the pot or cup, in a cheesecloth bag, or in a tea infuser. A tea infuser is a small mesh or perforated container.) Then pour freshly heated water over the tea. Allow the tea to steep two to six minutes, until it reaches the desired strength. Remove the teabag or leaves from the pot before serving. If the tea leaves stay in contact with the water too long, the tea can become bitter. Serve cream, sugar or honey, and lemon with tea. Prepare iced tea by fi rst making strong hot tea. If desired, dissolve honey or sugar in the tea. Then pour the tea over ice and stir until chilled. Making the hot tea stronger than you usually drink it will keep the ice from diluting the iced tea too much. Chocolate and Cocoa Beverages Hot chocolate is made with chocolate, which is usually shaved or ground to help it melt when hot liquid is added. Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder and sugar. Unlike chocolate, cocoa powder contains very little fat. Therefore, hot cocoa is less rich than hot chocolate. Both hot chocolate and hot cocoa contain milk or cream. This means you must use low temperatures to prevent scorching. Choose nonfat milk to reduce calories. Do not allow these beverages to boil after adding milk. Beating these beverages with a whisk until foamy will keep the milk from forming a scum layer. If desired, you may fl avor either beverage with vanilla extract. Try adding fl avorings like peppermint extract, orange extract, or cinnamon for tasty variations. Exploring Careers Barista Baristas do all the tasks involved with waiting on customers in a coffeehouse. They weigh, grind, and pack coffee. They prepare and serve coffee beverages and other menu items. Baristas order and stock supplies. They also clean work areas and equipment. Successful baristas are friendly, helpful, and have good listening skills for accurately taking customer orders. They use speaking skills to describe menu items to customers. Baristas use math skills to make change and balance cash drawers. They need to be able to work as members of a team as they relay orders to other employees for preparation. Baristas must keep up with a fast-paced work environment when there is a rush of customers. They must see what needs to be done and take the initiative to do it. Barista is an entry-level job. However, many coffeehouses prefer to hire people with high school diplomas. A background in foodservice is helpful but not required. Baristas will learn how to perform most tasks from coworkers and training manuals. In time, baristas may move into jobs as coffeehouse supervisors or managers. Their skills will also help them fi nd work in other areas of the hospitality industry. Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com Figure 5.8 Each type of tea has a characteristic color and aroma. How long should tea leaves be allowed to steep in order to achieve a pleasing flavor?