Peach Texas Tea Food

CLASSIC TEXAS TEA

Steps:

• For the sour mix: Stir together the lemon juice and Simple Syrup in a glass.
• For the Texas tea: Fill a Collins glass with ice. Pour in the vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, triple sec and 1 ounce of the sour mix. Top off with a splash of cola. Stir once with a bar spoon and serve. No garnish needed.
• Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave.) Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

PEACH TEA

Steps:

• In a tea kettle or medium saucepan over high heat, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.
• While the tea steeps, purée the peaches, if using fresh fruit. Pulse in a food processor or blender until very smooth. You should have 2 cups.
• Gently squeeze the concentrated tea from the bags and discard the bags. If using puréed peaches, pour the tea into the blender, add the lemon juice and purée until smooth. Transfer to a pitcher. If using peach juice, transfer the tea to a pitcher, and stir in the peach juice and lemon juice.
• Add the ice to the pitcher, then taste. If it's too sweet, add more lemon juice, a couple of teaspoons at a time. If it isn't sweet enough, stir in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dissolved. Refrigerate until the tea is chilled throughout. Serve in a large glass filled with ice and garnished with peach slices.

SOUTH BEACH TEA

Steps:

• With a melon baller, make small balls with the peaches, leaving the skin on for color. Layer crushed ice and peach balls in a hurricane glass. In a shaker filled with ice, combine the liquor and fruit juices. Shake vigorously until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly and chilled evenly. Strain into glass over peaches and ice. Top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a pineapple wedge on the rim of the glass and serve.

SPARKLING PEACH TEA

Steps:

• Cut the peach in half, remove the pit and dice the fruit. Put the peaches, Simple Syrup and lemon juice into a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Stir together the peach-simple syrup mixture with the peach iced tea. Pour half of the peach tea mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. Chill the remaining peach tea mixture.
• To make the cocktails: Fill 4 tall iced tea glasses with the tea cubes. Divide the peach tea evenly among the glasses. Top each with Prosecco, garnish with a lemon slice and serve immediately.
• Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 month.

HOMEMADE PEACH ICED TEA

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups (750ml) water and the sugar to a boil in a pot. Add the peaches and vanilla bean (including the seeds). Simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes.
• Discard the vanilla bean. Pour the peaches and syrup into a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the peach puree through a sieve into a pitcher.
• Bring 4 cups (1 liter) water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea and steep according to the package directions. Strain to remove the tea leaves, then add the tea to the pitcher with the peach puree. Stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold.
• The pulp from the fruit may have separated from the tea during chilling, so be sure to stir it before serving. Pour over ice cubes in tall glasses and garnish with vanilla beans.
• Cook's Note: When blending hot liquids, remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

PEACH ICED TEA

Steps:

• Tip the sugar into a pan with 250ml water. Bring to the boil slowly, ensuring the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the chopped peaches and cook until very soft. Remove from the heat, mash the peaches with a fork, and leave to infuse for 1 hr.
• Sieve the syrup through a fine sieve into a jug, mashing the fruit to release all the liquid. The syrup will keep in the fridge for one week.
• Put the teabags in a large heatproof jug and pour over 2 litres boiling water. Leave to steep for 4 mins, then carefully remove the teabags. Leave to cool, then transfer to the fridge until chilled.
• Stir the peach syrup into the iced tea with some ice, or pour a little of the syrup into tall glasses and add the tea. Top up with more water, sparkling water or ice. Add peach slices to serve.

PEACH TEA MIX

Steps:

• Stir together and store in an air tight container.
• Mix 1 Tablespoon in with hot water.