The Food Factor: Strawberry Green Tea

Video by Jonathan Parrish

This post is bittersweet for me. After nearly 11 years, The Food Factor is coming to an end. What began as a broadcast television segment in 2014, transitioned to the Extension for Real Life blog in 2018. Creating content for television and the blog has been a rewarding experience, where I learned new skills, including how to host a cooking show on TV! I very much enjoyed sharing my food and nutrition knowledge with you, our faithful audience, in this format.

While I will not be creating new content for The Food Factor, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be serving all my clients in and around Rankin County as a family, health and wellness Extension agent.

In this last post, I want to say thank you to the many people who have made The Food Factor possible. Multiple members of the MSU Extension Service Office of Agricultural Communications have been a part of this journey, including videographers, writers, photographers, copy editors, web team members, and social media managers. None of this would have been possible without my loyal fans, many of whom I’ve met through the years when you would recognize me and approach me to talk about The Food Factor. And, of course, I say a huge thank you to my mom, who has graciously allowed us to film the segment in her kitchen over the last four years.

While we won’t be bringing you new episodes, you can find past episodes of The Food Factor on the MissStateExtension YouTube channel and The Food Factor Facebook page.

I hope you enjoy this final recipe I’ll share with you.

Strawberry Green Tea is a refreshing blend that combines earthy, tangy, and sweet flavors you will surely enjoy! Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients, this beverage is not only delicious but also comes with a variety of health benefits.

Strawberry Green Tea

Yield: 

16, 8-ounce servings

Ingredients: 

13 C. water

13 green tea bags, regular size

1 lb. fresh strawberries

1 C. honey

1 lemon, optional

Directions: 

1. Wash strawberries and remove the tops.
2. Chop the berries with a hand chopper in a large pot.
3. Add water to the chopped berries and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove from heat and let mixture cool for 5 minutes.
5. Add tea bags and submerge. Steep tea for 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Strain the tea through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth-lined colander into a 1-gallon pitcher.
7. Add honey and stir until dissolved.
8. Chill and serve.
9. Garnish with a lemon slice or a fresh strawberry if desired.

Thanks to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service for this recipe!