Fresh Meadow Tea

Multiple varieties of tea grow in meadows, gardens, and flower beds in eastern Pennsylvania. The leaves can be used fresh, dried, or frozen. Many cooks keep a gallon jar of fresh tea in the refrigerator from May through September. They also see to it that tea leaves and stems are laid out on paper to dry in a little-used corner of the house. (It’s a way to insure a supply of meadow tea for hot drinks in the wintertime.) Those with access to a freezer have discovered the convenience of mixing up a tea concentrate and freezing it for some future occasions when time or the season does not allow making it with fresh leaves.
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Ingredients

Makes ½ gallon

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 pint water
  • 1 cup fresh tea leaves either peppermint or spearmint
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • water

Instructions

  • Stir sugar and pint of water together in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Pour boiling syrup over tea leaves and let steep for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the leaves and let tea cool.
  • Add the lemon juice and enough water to make ½ gallon of tea.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Serve either hot or cold.
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Cuisine Amish