Could there be a better month than June for Iced Tea Month? Healthier than soda, iced tea is refreshing and delicious. Brew pitchers of tea to keep in the fridge all summer long. If you have difficulty getting granulated sugar to dissolve in your iced tea, consider using honey and fresh juices for sweetening your tea instead. Different types of honey will not only sweeten your tea, but add delicate flavors as well. The following recipes use wildflower, raspberry and orange blossom varieties of honey. If you have mango honey or key lime honey they also pair well with ice tea.
Recipes courtesy the National Honey Board.
Honey Mint Iced Tea
-Makes 4 servings-
Ingredients:
4 cups boiling water
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
2 tea bags, green or black
1/4 cup honey*
*Suggested pairing: Wildflower honey. Wildflower honey is amber to dark amber in color with mild floral overtones. Extremely versatile, it is delicious in fruit and vegetable salad dressings, excellent in baked goods and makes a delicious table honey. Clover honey may also be substituted for wildflower.
Directions:
In large heat-proof pitcher, pour boiling water over mint and tea bags. Whisk in honey. Let steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags; cool. Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, pour over ice.
Honey Raspberry Iced Tea
- Makes 4 Servings -
Ingredients:
2 cups freshly brewed tea
2 cups cranberry-raspberry juice
1/4 cup honey*
*Suggested pairing: Raspberry honey. Raspberry honey is light amber in color with a mellow, smooth flavor and unique raspberry finish. This sweet honey pairs well with vanilla flavors, champagne, chocolate and
with fresh fruit, such as pears and peaches. If raspberry honey is unavailable, clover honey may also be used.
Directions:
In a large, heat-proof pitcher, whisk together all ingredients until thoroughly combined and honey dissolves. Chill until ready to serve. Pour over ice to serve.
Icy Fruit Tea
- Makes 6 servings -
Ingredients:
4 tea bags
1 cup boiling water
1/2 honey*
1/4 cup crushed, packed fresh mint leaves
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 fresh lime juice
Ice cubes
1 1/2 quarts carbonated water
*Suggested pairing: Orange blossom honey. Orange blossom honey is a white to extra light amber honey with a pronounced aroma of orange blossoms. It has a sweet, fruity taste and is a great table honey. Orange blossom honey also excels in fruit and vegetable salad dressings, and in marinades for fish and poultry.
Directions:
For concentrate, place tea bags in medium bowl. Add boiling water and steep 10 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add honey and mint; mix well. Mix fruit juices in 1-quart container. Add tea mixture and refrigerate until ready to use. For tea, fill 12-ounce glass with ice cubes. Add 1/2 cup each concentrate and fill glass with carbonated water.
Serving Suggestions:
Garnish with a pineapple spear and mint sprig.
——–Amy Sherman
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