Enjoy a refreshing Mint Julep Sweet Tea, a perfect Southern summer sipper. This recipe combines the bright flavor of fresh mint with classic sweet tea for an instantly cooling drink.
Author:Anya Bennett
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:5 minutes (for syrup)
Total Time:20 minutes plus chilling time
Yield:8 servings
Category:Beverage
Method:Brewing and Infusing
Cuisine:American (Southern)
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
4 cups strong brewed black tea, chilled
4 cups cold water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed, plus extra for garnish
1/2 cup bourbon (optional)
Ice
Instructions
Make a simple syrup: Combine sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat.
Steep the mint: Add the 1 cup of mint leaves to the hot simple syrup. Let it steep for 30 minutes.
Strain the syrup: Remove the mint leaves from the syrup, pressing gently to extract flavor. Discard the leaves.
Combine tea and syrup: In a large pitcher, mix the chilled brewed tea, the remaining 3 cups of cold water, and the mint simple syrup. Stir well.
Add bourbon (if using): Stir in the bourbon until mixed.
Chill: Refrigerate the tea mixture for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve: Fill tall glasses with ice. Pour the sweet tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh sprig of mint. Gently slap the mint against your hand before placing it in the glass to release the aroma.
Notes
Brew your black tea strongly; it needs to stand up to the sugar and mint.
Adjust the amount of simple syrup to fit your preferred sweetness level.
For a non-alcoholic version, simply omit the bourbon.
Fresh mint makes a big difference; use the best you can find.