The spring is finally approaching, but just because it’s getting warmer outside doesn’t mean you need to give up the exotic aroma and flavor found in your piping hot mug of Earl Grey tea. This innovative recipe from Numi Tea uses its Aged Earl Grey tea to infuse the flavors of aged organic Assam black tea and citrus from real Italian bergamot into these delicious shish kebabs. Make this delicious recipe on the grill or in the oven, and remember to choose organic meat.

The Science

A study published in Livestock Science found that when compared to conventionally raised chickens, organic chickens were healthier in spite of being kept alive twice as long and having access to the outdoors. Belgian scientists examined 140 chickens that were randomly selected from seven organic farms and seven conventional farms. They assessed animal welfare using multiple indicators of physical and mental health. Physical health was determined by assessing the condition of the chicken’s feet, legs and breast and the chicken’s ability to carry its own body weight. Mental health was determined by measuring the duration of time that the chicken’s ‘played dead’ when a predator was simulated, where longer periods of immobility indicate higher levels of fear. Organic chickens had better leg health than conventional chickens, and scored better than conventional chickens when all of the wellness indicators were averaged. The authors concluded that “despite the potentially elevated risk of immunological challenge, broiler chicken welfare is generally superior in organic farms as compared with conventional farms in Belgium.”

The Recipe

Photo Credit: Robert

 Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 4 tea bags Aged Earl Grey
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp. honey
• Salt and pepper 
to taste
• 1 pound beef or chicken cut into kebab chunks
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 red or yellow pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 4 shish kebab skewers

 Directions

Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

Bring water to a boil and pour over tea bags in a mug for 5 minutes. Squeeze and remove tea bags. Stir in remaining ingredients and cool to room temperature. Pour tea infusion over meat and marinate for 1 hour. Assemble skewers, alternating meat and vegetables. Barbecue or cook in oven, turning skewers and frequently applying remaining marinade juice. In Good Health!

Banner Photo Credit: Pan Xiaozhen; unsplash.com