Pineapple Peel Tea

Step 1

It's essential to clean the pineapple skin thoroughly. You can do this by scrubbing the pineapple thoroughly with a vegetable brush. I like to do a vinegar soak - which helps to remove bacteria and pesticides from the skin.Fill a large pot with enough water to submerge the pineapple body and add 1-2 tbsp of vinegar - this shouldn't affect the pineapple's flavor.Allow it to soak for between 20-30 minutes, then rinse well with clean water.

Step 2

Pat the rinsed pineapple dry and then remove the peel with a sharp paring knife. You can also use the pineapple core.The pineapple flesh can be eaten as a snack or stored in the fridge/freezer to make smoothies.

Step 3

Prepare the ginger and turmeric roots by washing and peeling them and then grating them using a garlic grating dish or a fine grater. Do this step with gloves on as the turmeric WILL stain your skin.You can alternatively slice them and slightly 'bruise' the pieces by bashing with the knife handle's hilt, but I find that the flavors infuse much better when grated.

Step 4

Juice the lemon and oranges.

Step 5

Add all of the ingredients (except the honey) into a large pot with water and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then allow to simmer for an hour - the longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will become.

Step 6

Allow the tea to cool down slightly before you sieve it and transfer it to bottles.Optionally, forego the sieve and remove the large pieces of pineapple skin and the rosemary. However, you will then have some remaining pulp in the drink.

Step 7

You can add a little sweetener now (I used honey), or just before serving it, or omit this entirely.The pineapple tea is then ready to drink immediately or store for later.

Step 8

You can enjoy the pineapple tea warm or cold. It can be enjoyed alone or added to other drinks, including lemonade and cocktails in place of pineapple juice.

Step 9

Fridge: Store the leftover pineapple skin tea in airtight glass containers (so they don't stain) in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.Freeze: The pineapple tea can also be frozen into ice-cubes to add to drinks or thaw and consume for between 1-2 months.