Kitchen Wench

I haven’t posted in a while because I’ve been out of town practically every weekend in June.  I returned from ten days in Seattle and Vancouver only to find that summer has officially arrived in DC.  It is either torrentially raining or hot as balls.  Some highlights from the June weather forecast include “pea-sized hail”, “60 MPH winds”, “high of 98, feels like 103″ and “78% humidity”.

A few Sundays ago, I walked two blocks from my house and became certain that my skin was about to melt off my face.  I stopped into Sticky Fingers bakery and attempted to order an iced tea.  The cashier pointed at the refrigerator case, “The iced tea is over there.”  I blinked in confusion a few times before realizing that they only sold bottled, sweetened iced tea.

I’m a northerner; I do not like sweet tea.  I just wanted a big, cold cup of unadulterated black tea.  So I walked across the street to Mayorga and tried again: “I’d like a large iced tea.”  The cashier smiled apologetically at me, pointed at the refrigerator case, and said they only sold bottled Honest Tea.  Dude, this place has a freaking raw juice bar, but they can’t brew their own iced tea?!  Unacceptable.  “Okaaay,” I said, “Can I have a large hot tea and a cup of ice?”  Yes, they could do that.

So I awkwardly mixed my own iced tea, but it’s wasn’t the same.  The tea doesn’t get strong enough or cold enough.   How hard is it to fill a giant pitcher with tea, ice cubes, and throw it in the fridge?  Apparently harder that it sounds.  I was able to order an iced tea at Dos Gringos, but it tasted like it has been brewed in a container that was used to brew coffee.  Which is to say, it tasted terrible.

I know these places are all billed as “coffee” shops, but every “coffee” shop out there serves hot tea and sells a variety of bottled waters and juices at the very least.  I have yet to visit a sit down restaurant that did serve iced tea.  Most of them will even make you an awesomely refreshing Arnold Palmer.  I’m trying to patronize my local businesses here, but they have failed to quench the thirst of this non-coffee drinker! I hate to say this, but it looks like I have to start going back to Starbucks, even though I hate Tazo tea.  But you know what?  In the summer, you can get iced black tea, iced green tea, and they’ll even make you an Arnold Palmer.  Nothing cuts the face-melting DC heat like a tall glass strong tea and lemonade.