I often find myself gravitating towards a coffee shop at the end of lunch for an afternoon pick me up. It’s become a force of habit that I’m keen to break.

The truth is, there’s not a lot of choice when it comes to drinks. What’s readily available can be lumped into the categories of soft drink, juice, flavoured water, energy drink and ice tea. And even then, there are only a handful of varieties and brands in each category. It’s a little disappointing, especially when compared with the US and Asia, where there’s a mind blowingly large selection.

I’ve always thought the ice tea category is the most pitiful. Unless you step inside an Asian grocery, the brand of ice tea you’re most likely to find is Lipton. While I don’t mind the packet stuff, Lipton ice tea is terrible – it’s overly sugared and taste nothing like tea.

This is why I was especially excited when the girls at Mark Communications contacted me about Stolen Recipe. Unlike most ice teas which use tea extract, each bottle of Stolen Recipe contains real brewed tea, herbs and fruit juices. Best of all, there is no added sugar, no preservatives and no artificial colours or flavours.

Stolen Recipe Ice Tea Range

The thing you instantly notice when you drink Stolen Recipe is the purity in the flavour. You don’t get a sticky aftertaste in your mouth. The drink actually reminds me a lot of Snapple ice teas, although I imagine Stolen Recipe is much better for you.

There are three very different flavours, which have been brewed to the prized formulas of three Aussies who have given over their recipes in the name great tasting ice tea.

Deidre’s Energy Blend: Berry and Pomegranate

85.5% real brewed green tea + Siberian ginseng + blackcurrants + strawberries + blackberries + hibiscus + rosehips + bilberries + elderberries.

Deidre’s Energy Blend tastes quite similar to cranberry juice, only without the tartness. It is a fruity concoction that’s loaded with antioxidants and energisers.

Felicity’s Quench Blend: Lemon and Lime

86.6% real brewed peppermint tea + chamomile tea + fennel + lemon balm.

The surprise favourite of the bunch is Felicity’s Quench Blend. While I’m not normally a fan of peppermint tea, there’s something very inviting about this blend. The mint is quite subtle and the citrus notes are very refreshing.

Blake’s Relax Blend: Mango and Passionfruit

83% real brewed chamomile tea + passion flower + lime flower

I thought I would like Blake’s Relax Blend the most, but in fact, it tasted very different to what I imagined. The chamomile has a very distinct flavour and I’m not so sure it works with the passion flower and lime. The ingredients don’t quite gel in this concoction. Sorry Blake!

Stolen Recipe can be found at selected cafes and gourmet grocers for an RRP of $3.50. Hop onto www.stolenrecipe.com.au for more information.

Now it’s your turn to try!

To share the greatness of Stolen Recipe, tasted by two is recruiting five taste testers to sample the product and give their own opinions on the ice tea and also suggest creative ways to use the tea – whether it’s in a cocktail, a dessert or a savory dish!

We’re also giving the taste testers the opportunity to submit their own secret ice tea recipe to Stolen Recipe for consideration and the team from Stolen Recipe will be picking the winner!

To be in the running, just leave a comment below and tell us which tea flavour appeals most to you!