Description
Refreshing and naturally sweetened Peach Sweet Tea combines ripe peaches and black tea for a perfect summer beverage. This refreshing drink is easy to prepare with fresh ingredients, offering a delightful balance of fruity sweetness and tea richness, served chilled over ice with lemon or mint for garnish.
Ingredients
Peach Syrup
- 2 cups fresh ripe peaches, sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Tea
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
To Serve
- Lemon slices
- Fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Prepare Peach Syrup: Combine the sliced peaches, sugar, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the peaches soften and the sugar dissolves, about 5 to 7 minutes. Gently mash the peaches with a spoon or potato masher to release their juices, then simmer for an additional 3 minutes to develop the syrup.
- Strain Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and strain the peach mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl to separate the syrup from the solids. Press the peaches to extract all the juices, discarding the solids or saving some mashed peaches if desired.
- Brew Tea: In a separate pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the black tea bags. Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes until strong and aromatic, then remove the tea bags.
- Combine and Chill: Stir the peach syrup into the brewed tea. Add additional cold water to adjust the tea strength to your preference. Transfer the tea to the refrigerator and chill until cold, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Serve: Pour the chilled peach sweet tea over ice. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves for a refreshing finish. Optionally, add some reserved mashed peaches for extra texture and flavor.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness by increasing or decreasing the amount of peach syrup.
- Leaving some mashed peaches in the tea adds extra flavor and texture.
- Use ripe, juicy peaches for the best natural sweetness.
- Steeping time can be adjusted depending on your desired tea strength.
