A thousand years with every bubble!

Some fruits seem to carry a little more history. The peach definitely is one of them...

The lovely peach, soft, fragrant, and delicate, has journeyed through history from ancient China, across Central Asia to Persia, into orchards and kitchens worldwide.

A peach may be soft and delicate. Its journey has been anything but.

Its botanical name, Prunus persica, tells a misleading story

The peach is not Persian in origin. Its roots lie in China. Archaeologists have found peach stones dating back around 8,000 years. Some of the earliest evidence comes from sites in present-day Zhejiang, in the lower Yangtze River region, suggesting that people were already selecting and cultivating peaches thousands of years before the great civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean had encountered them.

The peach carries a long and interesting history, and the peach tree is considered to form a botanical bridge between the earthly realm, the divine, and the spirit world. So the peach is not only a source of food; the tree’s fruit, blossoms, and wood are central to both Taoist and Himalayan alchemy, folklore, and indigenous mountain rituals.

Perhaps no fruit has been surrounded by quite such beautiful mythology

In Chinese tradition, the peach became a symbol of longevity and immortality. The Queen Mother of the West, Xi Wangmu, was said to possess a celestial peach orchard. Its magical peaches ripened only after extraordinarily long intervals and were offered to the immortals at a heavenly banquet. To eat one was to receive the gift of long life.

Archaeological evidence places the early cultivation of the peach in China at least 7,500–8,000 years ago, particularly around the lower Yangtze River in present-day Zhejiang.

The peach so became a wish for health, longevity, happiness, and a life that might continue longer. That symbolism is still present in Chinese culture today. The shòu táo  (a lotus seed bun), meaning “longevity peach”, is traditionally associated with birthdays and wishes for a long life.

Mixologist & Bar Manager and Tea Sommelier Mariusz Sieradzki has taken the delicate character of white peach and paired it with the freshness of green shiso in a bubbly mocktail called White Peach Blossom.

You can connect with Mariusz Sieradzki on LinkedIn.

At its heart, Mariusz has used ALTHAUS Sparkling Tea – bringing the whole composition together with the elegance and lift of a festive tea. The result is a refreshing, completely alcohol-free interpretation of a fruit with an extraordinary history.

Below you find Mariusz's recipe:

White Peach Blossom 🍑

Glass: Collins glass, 330 ml

Ingredients

• 100 ml ALTHAUS Sparkling Tea 

• 50 ml white peach purée

• 10 ml Supasawa

• 10 ml sugar cane syrup

• 1 fresh green shiso leaf

• Ice

The botanical name of shiso leaf is s Perilla frutescens, and it belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) — the same family as mint, basil, rosemary and sage. Shiso works beautifully with peach, and it's a very clever pairing by Mariusz.

Shiso works beautifully with peach, and it's a very clever pairing by Mariusz.

White peach has a soft, floral, delicate sweetness. Shiso adds a contrasting green, aromatic freshness, preventing this drink from becoming too sweet or "peachy." The citrus acidity from Supasawa then lifts the overall composition, while the sparkling tea adds structure and the bubbly sophistication.

Method

Lightly clap the shiso leaf between your hands to release its aromatic oils. Place it in a shaker together with the white peach purée, Supasawa and sugar cane syrup.

Add ice and shake briefly. Fine strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with ALTHAUS Sparkling Tea and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a fresh green shiso leaf and a thin slice of white peach.

Good luck with your drink creation. Please tag me if you post something while you create and enjoy it! @tea.master.s 

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