Mint Iced Tea

For about 3 years of my young life, I lived in Atlanta, GA. Something around middle school to freshman year of high school. Living in that locale in contrast to the Northeast, a person is bound to notice endearing little cultural differences fairly often. As I typed out the title of this post, one particular thing popped into my head: the meaning of the word "tea." Tea in GA (and I can only assume the rest of the south) is served iced and sweetened. And LAAAWWDD, is it sweetened. Tea to me, should be hot. Iced tea, is not. 

Looks refreshing huh?

The best part of differences like this, is always the instance in which you figure out the disparity. I actually have a pretty vivid memory of my mom ordering tea in a restaurant and being served a sweetened iced tea for the first time. Weird how I can remember that, yet so many more useful things just seem to go right out the window (the one pictured above, of course).

This tea is made from Lipton tea bags, which cost like what? A dollar for 1 million? Fresh mint (which, if you planted any this year, you probably are like me and have more than you know what to do with!), 1 lemon, and a couple tablespoons of sugar (for good measure!). So it's cheap, and it's really fan-freakin-tastic!

This dude knows what's up!
Except he's a bird so he's also evil, watch out.

And it's homemade. And you can impress anyone that comes over with your delicious homemade iced tea!!

Soundtrack: Amazing Baby - Rewild (It only felt appropriate after the last post's soundtrack)


Mint Iced Tea (Serves 8)


6 Lipton tea bags
water (a little more than 2 quarts (so you can boil it) then 4 cups cold)
juice of 1 lemon
3 tbsp sugar
A few sprigs of fresh mint


To start you will need 2 quarts of boiling water. (I boiled the water with some extra in a kettle, then measured out the 2 quarts into a saucepan, using another saucepan. It was pretty resourceful and awesome.) Steep 6 tea bags in water, covered, for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the mint leaves from the stems and set aside. 


Remove the tea bags and whisk in the sugar and lemon juice. Pour into a container and add 4 cups of cold water. Stir in the mint leaves. Chill until cold!

Oooh, how artistic of me?

If you are a pot, just don't call this kettle black

Steeping and measuring

Whisking!

Sweet and Sour, oh, the contrast!

Just chill, yo!