How To Make French Mint Tea

Sun, 10/12/08 – 9:03 PM | 21 Comments

Any southerner worth their salt has a great chili recipe, preferably a signature one. This is why I set out several years back trying out this one and that, tweaking and adding until I came …

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Home » Beverages, Southern Classics

How To Make French Mint Tea

Submitted by southernplate on Wednesday, July 23, 20088 Comments

This is one of my mother’s all time favorite drinks in the summer. Of course, when you live in the south, anything served over ice quickly becomes a favorite. This drink, however, is different. Think mint juleps beneath a big oak shade tree. Now place a nice stemmed iced tea glass of my Mama’s French Mint Tea in your hand and you’re on your way!

Mama took these pictures just a few moments ago, so if you hurry to her house there might still be some left!

You will need: Sugar, Lemon Juice, Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate, Fresh (or dried) Mint, and Tea Bags. In general, the tea bags we use in the south are orange pekoe. They are marketed under popular brands such as Luzianne or Tetley.

In a pot bring to a boil the tea bags, mint and enough water to cover well.

Remove from heat and let steep covered for 30 minutes

Put approx. 1 quart water in pitcher and add oj concentrate

And sugar….

And lemon juice.
(You’d never know by my sentence structure that was an English honors student in college…)

Strain tea and mint into pitcher and add enough water to make one gallon. Stir. Refrigerate.

French Mint Tea

8 regular size tea bags

juice of 4 lemons (8T. Realemon)

one 12 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate(pulp free)

2 cups sugar

handful of fresh mint (2 T. dried mint flakes)

In a pot bring to a boil the tea bags, mint and enough water to cover well. Remove from heat and let steep covered for 30 minutes. Put approx. 1 quart water in pitcher and add oj concentrate, lemon juice and sugar. Strain tea and mint into pitcher and add enough water to make one gallon. Stir. Refrigerate.

Mama’s Notes: I included alternate ingredients in parentheses. I also use 1 3/4 cup Splenda instead of sugar. If you want you can also add 1 1/2 cup pineapple juice instead of some of the water. If you use oj that is not pulp free, you will need to put it in the hot tea mixture and strain it with the tea and mint to remove some of the pulp.

Isn’t that a pretty picture?

Share and Enjoy:

8 Comments »

1

Pinky said:

Now i have NEVER heard of this drink before!

- July 23, 2008 at 4:59 pm

2

Southern Plate said:

You get the fastest comment award for the day! I just posted it a minute or two ago!
lol!
Mama has been making it ever since she tried it when I was around…..I’d say pre-teen. So that was umm…..five years ago? ~winks~
hehe
okay, so its been about twenty years….

- July 23, 2008 at 5:01 pm

3

Debbie said:

Yum!! But…uh… I want to come to your house to have some. and sit at the beautiful spot!

- July 23, 2008 at 8:46 pm

4

Southern Plate said:

Oooh but that is Mama’s house! She lives on the Tennessee River and has one of the best views in her entire neighborhood! I’ll have to get her to send me a pic of the view for you sometime!
She always has room for one more at the table, too!

- July 23, 2008 at 8:56 pm

5

Leslie said:

Very interesting! I would drink the whole thing!!! YUM

- July 24, 2008 at 12:08 am

6

Southern Plate said:

Thanks for stopping by, Leslie!!
It does look divine, doesn’t it?
I think I’m going to steal Mama’s camera, too!

- July 24, 2008 at 2:47 am

7

Jane said:

Mmmmm…
I love tea, I’ll have to try this!
I just found your site this evening. I’ll be back!

- August 29, 2008 at 1:27 am

8

southernplate (author) said:

Hey Jane! I certainly hope you found something you liked and if you didn’t you just give me a holler!!! Sit back, sit a spell, and stay a while! You’re always welcome here!!
Gratefully,
Christy