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.
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.