Lemonade Sweet Tea

 
Combine two Southern favorites—lemonade and iced tea—for a deliciously refreshing drink.

Ingredients

3 cups water

2 family-size tea bags

1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup sugar $

4 cups cold water

1/2 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed $

Garnishes: halved orange slices, lemon balm $

Preparation

1. Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and stir in fresh mint. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
2. Discard tea bags and mint. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour tea into a 3-qt. container, and stir in 4 cups cold water and lemonade concentrate. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.
Spiked Lemonade Sweet Tea: Prepare Lemonade Sweet Tea recipe as directed. Stir in 1 cup bourbon or 1 cup spiced dark rum just before serving. Garnish with fresh sugarcane and fresh pineapple slices, if desired.
Ginger-and-Honey Sweet Tea: Prepare Southern Sweet Tea recipe as directed, omitting sugar and stirring in 1/2 cup honey and 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired.