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Peach Iced Tea with Honey and Mint

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Prep Time 15 minutes
steep time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • Peach Honey Syrup:
  • 3 medium ripe peaches peeled, pitted, and roughly chopped
  • ⅓ cup good quality honey to taste
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 strip lemon peel pith removed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Tea:
  • 4 black tea bags
  • 4 cups freshly boiled water
  • 8 to 10 fresh mint leaves
  • Pinch of salt
  • For Assembling:
  • 2 cups cold water
  • Ice cubes
  • Fresh peach slices for garnish
  • Fresh mint sprigs for garnish
  • Lemon wheels for garnish
  • Extra honey for drizzling optional

Instructions
 

  • Combine chopped peaches, honey, water, and lemon peel in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer 10 to 12 minutes until peaches break down completely. Add lemon juice. Stir.
  • Strain through fine mesh strainer pressing solids firmly. Discard solids. Cool syrup.
  • Place tea bags in a large heatproof pitcher. Pour freshly boiled water over bags.
  • Add mint leaves. Press under the surface. Steep for 5 minutes exactly.
  • Remove tea bags without squeezing. Remove mint after a further 5 minutes.
  • Add pinch of salt. Stir. Allow tea to cool 20 minutes.
  • Add peach honey syrup starting with three-quarters. Stir. Taste. Add more as desired.
  • Add cold water. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness and acidity.
  • Refrigerate minimum 1 hour until thoroughly chilled.
  • Fill tall glasses with ice. Pour chilled tea over ice.
  • Garnish with peach slice, mint sprig, and lemon wheel. Drizzle extra honey if desired.
  • Stir pitcher before each pour. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use the ripest, most fragrant peaches available — the syrup flavour is entirely dependent on the peach quality
  • Never squeeze tea bags when removing — squeezing releases bitter tannins
  • Steep black tea for exactly 5 minutes — under-steeping is weak, over-steeping is bitter
  • Cool the tea before adding the syrup to preserve the delicate honey flavour
  • Make the tea slightly sweeter than ideal before chilling — cold suppresses sweetness
  • Peach honey syrup keeps in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to one week
  • Stir the pitcher before every pour as the syrup settles to the bottom
  • Fill glasses to the top with ice before pouring for the coldest, most refreshing result
  • Keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days — best within the first two days
  • Make the day before for the most cohesive, deeply developed flavour