Mama’s Mint Tea

We are having some strange summer weather, which is pretty typical for Alabama. Somedays it feels like the third level of Hades and somedays are entirely tolerable with a light breeze that keeps the bugs at bay long enough to sit and enjoy the sunshine. Lately, though, it seems the one adjective you hear over and over is simply “Hot”, and it’s said with a look of disdain and disgust. “It’s just HOT.” On days like this, a glass of iced tea is a must but a glass of fancy iced tea is even better.

This is one of my mother’s favorite recipes. I first posted it in 2008, the year I started blogging. At the time, I had grown up seeing a jug of what we dubbed “swamp water” in the fridge on a regular basis and always turned my nose up at it. Even when I posted this recipe some ten years ago, I was still not a fan. But, if we’re lucky, childhood aversions eventually give way to adult wisdom and I am not too proud to say that I have changed my ways and now enjoy this delicious fruity mint tea almost as much as my mother does. With that in mind, I’m sharing the recipe again with updated photos so you can see firsthand just how pretty it is and get your taste buds ready for a delicious iced drink sure to chase away the drudgery in the midst of a super hot summer’s day.

To make this, you’ll need: 8 regular sized tea bags (or four family size), lemon juice (fresh or bottled), a can of frozen orange juice concentrate (pulp free), sugar, and fresh or dried mint. The quantities of everything are listed in the printable recipe card below.

My mother has a brilliant hack that she uses not to cut the calories. Instead of using a regular teabag and sugar, she uses Southern Breeze tea that is presweetened (no calories).  I’ll put the details of that substitution in the recipe card, too. *Note, this post is not sponsored by Southern Breeze, we just love the stuff. 

1. 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.
2. Put approx. 1 quart water in one gallon pitcher and add orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, and sugar (if using regular tea bags).
3. Remove mint leaves and tea bags from tea add to pitcher. Add enough water to make one gallon. Stir. Refrigerate.

Enjoy at will! This keeps well in the fridge for up to a week.

A couple of days ago, after supper, I filled up our tea glasses again and handed one to my husband. “Come on” I told him “We need to go sit outside and drink tea and look up at the trees for a bit.”

We’ve had a hectic summer with lots of work and life changes, so we’re making it a point to take time out to disconnect when opportunities arise and this was one such opportunity. Sitting and looking at trees should be a regular past time for everyone – it’s as good as or better than most medicines on the market and the results are faster, too!

Mint Tea

 

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Ingredients

• 8 regular size tea bags (or 4 family size)
• juice of 4 lemons (or 8 Tablespoons lemon juice)
• 12 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate(pulp free)
• 2 cups sugar
• handful of fresh mint (or 2 Tablespoons dried mint)

Instructions

1. 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.
2. Put approx. 1 quart water in one gallon pitcher and add orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, and sugar.
3. Remove mint leaves and tea bags from tea add to pitcher. Add enough water to make one gallon. Stir. Refrigerate.

Notes

*If using Southern Breeze tea: Use 4 family size tea bags and omit the sugar. This is for one gallon of tea, just as in the recipe above.
*A family size tea bag equals two regular size tea bags.

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