Ginas Sweet Mint Tea Food

ICED SWEET MINT TEA

Steps:

• In large tea pot (or two small tea pots) pour boiling water over tea bags and mint and allow to steep for 20 minutes.
• Place sugar in 2-quart pitcher (that will tolerate some heat).
• Pour freshly brewed tea (minus mint and tea bags) into sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• To serve, pour into tall glasses over ice.
• Serve with lemon slices.
• Serves 8.

GINA'S SPIKED SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the tea bags and turn off the heat. Let steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags, stir in sugar and let cool completely.
• Muddle the mint leaves in a glass pitcher along with, the tea, the vodka, and the lemon wheels. Stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Serve in tall glasses filled with crushed ice and garnished with a sprig of mint.

GINA'S RASPBERRY MINT TEA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot with 12 cups of water to a boil over medium heat. Add the tea bags and let them steep for 10 minutes. Allow the tea to cool and discard the tea bags. Pour the liquid into a large glass pitcher.
• Meanwhile, add the sugar and 1 cup water to a saucepan and bring to a simmer, over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Drop in the handful of mint, remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. At this point, strain and add the sugar syrup to the pitcher. Stir the drink well and divide it between 12 glasses filled with ice. Garnish each serving with some fresh mint sprigs and raspberries.

MINT SWEET ICED TEA

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Turn off heat and add tea bags, steeping to desired strength (for me, 3-5 minutes).
• Remove tea bags and add ice until cool.
• Serve in a tall glass over ice!

GIN AND MINT TEA COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, add tea, and let steep 3 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, then return tea to saucepan. Add ginger, orange zest, sugar, and 1/2 cup mint; return to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Let cool.
• Strain tea syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing on solids; discard solids. Stir in gin and lemon juice and chill until cold, about 1 hour.
• Serve in rocks glasses filled with ice garnished with lemon wheels and mint sprigs.
• Do Ahead
• Cocktail can be made 4 hours ahead. Keep chilled.