Memorial Day Refreshments

No Comments | Written on May 26, 2010 at 5:00 am , by Kristina Vanni

Everyone is firing up the grill for Memorial Day, but what will you be drinking with those burgers and dogs? This Mint Iced Tea is sweet, cool and refreshing. I make pitcher after pitcher all summer long!

Mint always reminds me that Spring is here, since it is the first thing to pop up in a garden after cold winter days. The very smell of mint is refreshing and soothing. It can be expensive in those little plastic containers from stores, but growing your own only costs pennies. Mint will return like an old friend every Spring and grows like a weed, so you can always have it in abundance. It is said that the soothing qualities of peppermint tea aid digestion. Those little after-dinner mints are given away at restaurants for a reason! Mint also contains vitamins C and A. Don’t just use it for making tea; it is wonderful in main dishes and pairs especially well with lamb.

tea

FRESH MINT SWEET ICED TEA

12 cups water

6 tea bags (use tea that is not flavored; I just use plain Lipton tea bags)

1 cup fresh peppermint leaves

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 cups water

Garnish: lemon slices

mint sprigs

1. Bring the 12 cups of water just barely to a boil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Let stand until cool; remove tea bags.

2. While tea is cooling prepare mint syrup: Place the mint, sugar, and 2 cups water in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

3. Strain the sugar syrup into the cooled tea; refrigerate until cold. Pour cold tea into tall glasses with ice. Garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs, if desired. Makes about 18 glasses.