Sweet Citrus 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

HONEY CITRUS SOUTHERN ICED TEA

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water to a simmer in a saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let steep for 8 minutes. Remove the tea bags and stir in the honey. Let cool.
• Add the sweetened tea to a pitcher along with 2 cups ice and another 4 cups water; stir. Add the sliced kumquats (if using), key limes and lemon. Pour into glasses over ice and garnish with mint.

HONEY-CITRUS ICED TEA

Steps:

• Place tea bags in a teapot; add boiling water. Cover and steep for 3 minutes; discard tea bags. Pour tea into a pitcher. Peel and section 2 oranges and 1 lemon; add to tea. Stir in the orange juice, lemon juice and honey. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight. Cut remaining orange and lemon into slices; freeze., Just before serving, strain and discard fruit from tea. Stir in ginger ale. Serve with frozen fruit slices and ice.

SPIKED LEMONY ICED TEA

Steps:

• Cut a few thin rounds of lemon and reserve for garnish. Zest 2 tablespoons of zest from the remaining lemons, then juice the lemons (you'll need 4 tablespoons of juice; reserve any additional juice for another use).
• Make the ice cubes: Stir the lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the hot water in a heatproof liquid measuring cup. Pour the liquid into a standard ice cube tray and freeze.
• Make the cocktail: In a mixer, shake together the tea, whiskey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Shake and set aside for the sugar to melt.
• Serve: Arrange a few ice cubes in 2 glasses. Add a couple of ice cubes to the mixer and shake. Pour half of the cocktail mix into each. If you like, run the edge of the glasses with the lemon slices. Garnish the glass with the slices.

CITRUS ICED TEA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil.
• Reduce heat, add juices and lime peel.
• Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.
• Strain syrup; refrigerate 2 hours.
• For one serving: Add 1/4 cup syrup to 3/4 cup tea.

SWEET TEA CONCENTRATE

Steps:

• Remove peels from lemons; squeeze fruit, reserving 1/3 cup. Save remaining juice for another use., In a large saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until sugar is dissolved, 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat; add tea leaves and lemon peels. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain tea, discarding tea leaves and lemon peels; stir in lemon juice. Cool to room temperature., Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks., To prepare tea: In a tall glass, combine water with 1/4 cup concentrate; add ice.

CITRUS ICED TEA

Steps:

• Make the tea with 1.2 litres water and the sugar. Add mint to the pot and infuse for 10 mins. Strain and cool.
• Pour into a jug, stir in the juices and serve with orange slices, mint and plenty of ice.