Iceberg tea: A northern specialty

Residents in the northern Quebec community of Kangiqsujuaqare looking forward toa special treat this winter.

They'llhave enough iceberg water to last thiswhole winter,thanks to an ice chunk thatbroke off during freeze-up this fall.

LucassieNappaaluklives in Kangiqsujuaq, which has a population of about 600 people. He saysicebergs often comeclose to the community, butit's rare thatthey come into the inlet.

Usually, people snowmobile to an iceberg to get a chunk, bring it homeand then melt it for tea or coffee. But this year,Nappaaluk says the village's loaders brought the ice chunks right into the community.

"There arepieces of iceberg in just about every corner of our streets," he says. "Because the ice makes really good water."

The water from icebergs is often used to make tea or coffee and ismuch preferred over tap water.

"It's good for the soul, that's what I always say," says Marty Kuluguktuk,the assistant senior administrative officer in Grise Fiord, Nunavut's northernmost community. He says this fall chunks of ice were dragged from the beach to parts of that hamlet by ATV.

"Plus, you know that you're drinking few thousand years old of waterthat's been frozen in timeand more pristine."

Kuluguktuk says some tourists havefound a new souvenir in the Northerntreat:some visitors like the iceberg water so much,they want to bring some home with them.

"If the flights are OK and the connections are good, the weather is good. I've seen a couple times iceberg chunks as part of their luggage when they go out."