*Summer nostalgia* strawberry-basil iced latte

We got a lovely taste of summer this past weekend in Los Angeles. For me, the hot sun elicited nostalgia for childhood summers in Massachusetts – particularly the scents of warm soil, sun-kissed strawberries, and handfuls of herbs at the local farm share.

To keep the summer vibes alive, I whipped up a simple strawberry-basil iced latte you can enjoy no matter how far away from home you may be. 

Equipment 

• Blender
• Handheld frother or cocktail shaker 
• Espresso machine or Aeropress 

Ingredients (makes 1 latte) 

• 1 cup milk (I used Airy BAMnut milk for a nice cloudy mouthfeel) 
• 1 double shot (2 ounces) espresso or 4 ounces of strong coffee brewed in an Aeropress (I suggest beans with notes of strawberry, like Sundew or Dos Granjeras!) 
• 4 - 8 leaves of basil (depending on how basil-y you want it) 
• 4 medium strawberries 
• ice
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup 

Instructions

1. Blend together strawberries, basil, and sweetener until it becomes a thick and smooth sauce. 
2. Brew the coffee. 
3. Mix the milk and strawberry-basil sauce with a frother or cocktail shaker to create a nice foam. 
4. Combine the strawberry-basil milk and coffee, then pour over ice.  
5. Garnish with basil.