Iced teas...

When it comes to iced tea, everyone has a favourite recipe. Southerners in particular love their iced tea and drink it all year round. Here are some tips on how to make a top-notch batch of cool ice tea for a summer party.

1. Use fresh, cold water and good quality tea leaves (many varieties are available through My Steeped Tea .mysteepedtea.com/KT100202

You can use all types of teas to make iced tea: black, green, white, herbal - all taste great when iced. Bring water to boil and pour over tea. One teaspoon per 1 cup (250 mL) water.

2. Iced teas should be brewed strong. Brew for 8 to 10 minutes.

3. For the strongest iced tea, make a second batch of tea and place in ice cube trays. Freeze. Use these cubes for the tea. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before pouring over ice cubes (one part ice for one part tea). You can, of course refrigerate tea, but it may turn cloudy.

4. If you want to sweeten your tea, you can simply add sugar, honey or sweetener until dissolved, but making a sugar syrup is a better bet. It infuses better with the tea. To make a sugar syrup combine 1 cup (250mL) water with 1 cup (250mL) sugar in a pot. Bring to boil and boil for 5 minutes. Cool. Stir in enough to slightly sweeten tea.

5. Garnish with a lemon wedge or, if you wish, mint.

Recipes

ICED FRUIT CUP TEA
Another refresher for a warm evening, and an inspired alternative to a glass of wine. Using a fruit flavoured tea adds an extra dimension of flavour. If you aren't a rum lover, substitute with vodka.

6 cups (1.5 L) tea (not too strong)
2 tbsp (25 mL) honey
1 cup (250 mL) freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup (250 mL) white or gold rum. You can omit the booze and make it straight for kids or as a non-alcoholic refresher.

1 Brewed Fruit Tea, Berry Mania and Bella Coola are divine in this recipe! (both available through My Steeped Tea www.mysteepedtea.com/KT100202)

2. Strain into a heatproof jug, then add honey, stirring until dissolved.

3. Refrigerate. When cold, add juice, orange slices and rum.

4. Chill again. Serve on the rocks in a tall glass, garnished with an orange slice.

Makes 8-10 drinks.

GREEN TEA SPRITZER:

Matcha is a green tea powder that is very high in antioxidants and other valuable minerals and vitamins. It has a very high concentration of flavour, so use it sparingly.

½ cup of water

1 tbsp of sugar, honey or half a packet of sweetener

1 tbsp of Matcha Green Tea, or Matcha White Tea (both available through My Steeped Tea (www.mysteepedtea.com/KT100202)

3 cups white wine

12 mint leaves (have some extra for garnish)

1 cup soda water

1) In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes. Whisk in Matcha until well combined. Let cool completely.

2) In a large pitcher, combine Matcha syrup with wine and mint leaves. Stir to combine. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours and up to 1 day.

3) To serve, pour into chilled glasses and top with soda water. Garnish with mint if desired.

EARL GREY WITH GIN ON ICE
1 ½ oz Gin
4 oz Earl Grey tea (available through My Steeped Tea www.mysteepedtea.com/KT100202)
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz runny honey

Garnish
1 fresh mint sprig

1. Steep Earl Grey tea with lemon juice and honey. Add gin to a tall glass with ice and top with tea mixture. Serve garnished with a mint sprig.

Makes 1 cocktail
Entertaining Size
12 oz (1 ½ cups) Gin
32 oz (4 cups) Earl Grey tea
4 oz lemon juice
4 oz runny honey

Garnish
8 fresh mint sprigs

1. Steep Earl Grey tea with lemon juice and honey, then pour into tall glasses filled with gin and ice. Serve each garnished with a mint sprig.

Entertaining Size makes approximately 8 cocktails

CLASSIC LONG ISLAND ICED TEA

There are two misconceptions about this beverage. To clarify, first, it doesn't actually contain any tea, and second, despite being made with five spirits, it is a smooth, light and refreshing beverage. I had to add it here because it’s long been a favourite of mine! Whether Long Island Iced Tea was invented in Long Island or was named for a long, tall island cocktail, the drink has been a perennial summer favourite for decades.
1. Fill a zombie glass with ice. Add 1/3 oz each vodka, gin, rum, white tequila triple sec.

2. Add 2 oz tart lemonade and top with cola.

3. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Makes 1 Drink.