Mediterranean Iced Tea Food

PERFECT ICED TEA

Steps:

• Hot-Brewed:
• Bring 8 cups water to a simmer; remove from the heat and add 3 tablespoons loose tea or 6 tea bags. Let steep about 4 minutes, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags. Let cool, then transfer to a pitcher, cover and refrigerate.
• Cold-Brewed:
• Combine 8 cups cold water and 6 tablespoons loose tea or 10 tea bags in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 36 hours, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags.
• Sweet Teas:
• Combine 3/4 cup each sugar and water in a saucepan and add 1 infuser, if desired. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the infused syrup through a fine-mesh sieve (you'll get about 1 cup).
• Orange Add 6 strips zest
• Blackberries 1 cup
• Cinnamon 2 sticks
• Lavender 3 tablespoons dried
• Vanilla 1 halved bean
• Mint 3 sprigs
• Ginger 1 cup sliced
• Lemon 8 strips zest
• Nectarine 1 cup chopped
• Cucumber 2 cups chopped

SPICED ICED TEA

Steps:

• Combine water, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Place tea bags in spiced water, cover, and steep for ten minutes.
• In another saucepan, combine sugar, orange juice, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil.
• Strain tea into orange juice mixture.
• Chill, serve over ice.

MEDITERRANEAN ICED TEA

Steps:

• Shake the orange liqueur, amaro, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup and soda with ice in a cocktail shaker.
• Strain over ice into a highball glass.

HIBISCUS TEA

Steps:

• Bring water to light boil, turn off heat add the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon sticks. Cover and steep for 20 minutes.
• Strain tea into desired container, add sugar and orange slices and serve over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice.
• Chef Notes: This tea recipe can easily be doubled for a larger serving. When using herbs in tea making, longer is not better. Heating the herbs for extended time can release unfavorable qualities and bitterness found in herbs. The key is to add MORE herbs to strengthen flavor.

CARDAMOM SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Bring two quarts of water, with the cardamom pods, to boil in a pot.
• Remove from heat and add the tea bags.
• Cover and let steep five minutes.
• Remove the tea bags and the cardamom.
• Put the Splenda or sugar in a gallon pitcher and add the tea.
• Fill the pitcher the rest of the way with cold water, chill, and enjoy.

LEMON VERBENA ICED TEA

Steps:

• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Cool sugar syrup completely.
• Cook lemon verbena leaves in boiling water 1 minute. Drain and plunge into ice water; drain.
• Combine sugar syrup and verbena leaves in a blender; process until smooth. Cover and chill overnight. Strain sugar syrup through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• Place 2/3 cup ice into each of 6 tall glasses; add 1 cup brewed tea and 2 tablespoons sugar syrup to each serving, stirring to combine. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedges, if desired.

EASY ICED TEA

Steps:

• Put the tea bags, sugar, honey and 1.5 litres water in a large jug. Leave to infuse for 10 mins, then remove and discard the tea bags. Chill until ready to serve.
• Stir in the lemon juice, lemon slices, orange slices and mint leaves. Fill the jug with plenty of ice and stir again.
• Fill tall glasses with ice and pour over the iced tea, then serve with extra honey to taste.