Cherry Iced Tea Mocktail Food

TEA-TINI MOCKTAIL

Steps:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Add the tea and the Lemon Simple Syrup, and shake what your mama gave you. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the lemon strip.
• Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Let cool, then stir in the lemon juice. Use immediately or store, covered, in the refrigerator.

CHERRY ICED TEA MOCKTAIL

Steps:

• Speed peel the zest of 1 orange into a heatproof jug or pitcher. Add the tea bags, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 600ml of just-boiled water, stir, then leave to steep for 5 minutes.
• Remove the teabags and pour in 500ml of cold water, then leave to cool to room temperature, before placing the jug in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, to make the cherry syrup, wash and pit the cherries, placing them in a medium saucepan as you go. Add the remaining sugar, squeeze in the juice of the peeled orange and simmer on a medium heat for 10 minutes, or until the cherries are soft and syrupy.
• Turn off the heat and mash the cooked cherries with the back of a spoon, then pour it through a coarse sieve into a large bowl, pushing all the juice through with the back of a spoon, discarding the pulp.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• When you're ready to serve, add the cherry syrup and apple cider vinegar to the iced tea and stir well. If you like it sweeter, you could add a little honey, if you like.
• Fill 6 tall glasses with ice cubes and orange slices, pour over the cherry iced tea and serve.

SWEET TEA MOCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place the tea bags in a small teapot.
• Fill it 3/4 full with boiling water.
• Submerge the mint and orange rind and add the lemonade and cranberry juice.
• Cover the teapot and allow to steep two to four minutes.
• Pour the tea to a clear glass mug to serve. Garnish with the orange spiral and cherry or cranberries (also fresh mint if desired).
• Note: To make a quick freshly squeezed lemonade, juice one large lemon into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Add 1 T sugar and 4 oz water. Shake well and strain.

LONG ISLAND MOCKTAIL

Steps:

• Brew tea and add sugar to your liking. Fill glass halfway with ice. Pour sweetened tea and ginger ale over ice. Squeeze juice from a lemon wedge into drink and enjoy!
• *note: letting the tea cool a little before pouring over the ice will allow the healthy nutrients in the tea to remain in the drink.