Cool Tea Refreshments

By Brenda Hyde

During the hot steamy days of summer cold iced tea and other tea coolers are just the thing to hit the spot, whether you are alone or entertaining company. These easy recipes will have you sitting in shade and sipping in no time.

Teatime Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup cold strong Irish Breakfast or other black tea

1 cup frozen blueberries, raspberries or strawberries

1/2 cup apple juice or other 100% juice

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1 tbsp. honey

In blender or food processor combine tea, blueberries, juice, yogurt and honey. Blend on high speed until smooth. Makes 2 servings.

Mint and Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients:

3 cups of boiling water

4 black tea bags

2 fresh mint sprigs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

5 cups cold water

Fresh mint and sliced lemon for garnish

Use the boiling water to brew the black tea with the mint sprigs for 5 minutes. Strain or remove tea bags and mint. Add sugar and lemon juice, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir in cold water. Serve over ice, garnish with fresh sprigs of mint and a slice of lemon. Makes 8 servings.

Warm Weather Tea Punch

Ingredients:

2 cups water

2/3 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. fresh mint

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cups strong brewed tea

1 1-liter bottle cold club soda

Flower ice cubes

Place water, sugar and mint in a large pan and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain mixture and place in a large pitcher. Add orange juice, lemon juice and tea to the mint water. Chill. Just before serving, add club soda to the tea punch after you place in the bowl. Serve in punch bowl with flowered ice cubes-recipe below.

Flowered Ice Cubes: Filling ice-cube trays half full with water and place an edible blossom or petal on water in each cube. Freeze until firm, then fill the tray with water and freeze again. You can use:

Sweet William-dianthus

Violets, Johnnie Jump-ups or pansies

Scented geraniums blooms

Mint or lemon balm leaves

Borage or angelica blooms

Calendula blooms if they are small enough

Be sure they are pesticide and bug free!

Strawberry Iced Tea

Ingredients:

1 pint fresh strawberries

1/2 cup granulated sugar

5 cups boiling water

5 tea bags-green or black tea

1 can (12 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 quart sparkling water, or seltzer

Ice

Clean and trim the strawberries. Place them in a bowl with the sugar-mix to coat and set aside. Steep the tea bags with the boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and cool. Stir the cooled tea into the strawberry mixture. Add the lemonade. Place in a large pitcher and chill. Before serving stir in the seltzer and pour over ice cubes in pretty glasses. Makes 12 servings.

Almond Vanilla Iced Tea

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 quart of strong tea-any black or green variety

Combine all the ingredients and pour over ice cubes in tall glasses.

More Refreshing Features!

Iced Teas Tips

Party Punches

Summer Tea Recipes

Thirst Quencher Recipes

About The Author

Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her
husband and three kids. She is also editor of StandBesideHer.com and has a family friendly blog, On the Front Porch.

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