Raise a glass on National Irish Coffee Tea Day!
National Irish Coffee Day is celebrated on January 25, and we think that it’s the perfect occasion to warm yourself up with a tasty, boozy treat.
Irish coffee traditionally consists of black coffee, whiskey, sugar, and whipped cream. However, for those of you who prefer tea, here is recipe that will put a pep in your step.
Celtic Tea
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons demerara sugar
4 rounded teaspoons Irish Breakfast Blend
10 ounces boiling water
2 ounces Irish whiskey
1-ounce heavy whipping cream
- Combine sugar, tea, and hot water in teapot and steep 3 to 5 minutes.
- Preheat the mug by filling with hot water while the tea is steeping. (This helps your drink from cooling too quickly.)
- Empty the mug and then pour in the hot tea mixture through a strainer. Fill about ¾ full.
- Mix in the whiskey (We used Jameson’s Irish Whiskey).
- Top drink off with a layer of whipped cream or heavy cream.
Tip: if using heavy cream, slowly pour over the back of a spoon.
Serve while it’s hot!
Irish Coffee was created in the winter of 1943 by Joe Sheridan, a chef at Foynes Port near Limerick, Ireland. The village of Foynes was an airbase for transatlantic flights at the time, often being the landing spot as a layover and refuel spot for longer flights. Passengers would often need to spend the night in Foynes, and a hub of new accommodation, bars, and restaurants was created to service the travelers.
One day, after a plane had to return to Foynes, Joe whipped up something to help the passengers forget about the cold. Legend has it that everyone drank their drinks in total silence, savoring the unique taste as it passed through their lips. One person eventually spoke up, asking Joe if they were drinking Brazilian coffee, to which he heartily replied “No, that’s Irish Coffee.”
Irish Coffee became a huge success and an airport specialty. Irish Coffee was introduced to the United States in 1952 by travel writer Stanton Delaplane.