The iced tea at Zara’s Mediterranean Kitchen harkens back to an old recipe passed down by manager-consultant Mohammad Ruiz’s Middle Eastern grandmother.
The recipe, however, is a secret.
“People try to guess the flavors,” Ruiz said. “Some people guess hibiscus, rose, jasmine, and we just say ‘floral influence.’ But the chemistry behind it and the equation behind it—that keeps [the drink] unique.”
Zara's iced tea is $2.75 a glass and $24.95 for a gallon.[/caption]
He said the sweet tea is made with the highest quality tea, lemon, sugar and filtered water.
“It has no carbonation and no processed ingredients,” he said. “Tea, by far, is healthier than any soft drink.”
Ruiz said the lamb chops and shish kebab entrees on Zara’s menu complement the sweetness of the tea.
“As soon as you eat your kebab, the tea brings out more flavor from the meat and the herbs—the tea enhances the char flavor,” he said.
Customers have begun asking to take tea home with them, Ruiz said.
“People are getting so loyal to the drink that they even want in a gallon, and they keep coming for it,” he said.
415 Rayford Road, Ste. 300, Spring 713-575-9272 www.zaramediterraneankitchen.com Hours: Sun.-Thu. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
