Description
Refreshing honeydew mint iced tea with fresh syrup and green tea. Perfect for summer!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups water, divided
- 4 bags green tea (or 4 tablespoons loose leaf green tea)
- 1 cup fresh honeydew melon, cubed
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar (or to taste)
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Mint sprigs and honeydew melon wedges, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Honeydew and Mint: In a blender or food processor, combine the cubed honeydew melon and fresh mint leaves.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend until the mixture is completely smooth. You might need to scrape down the sides of the blender a few times to ensure everything is fully incorporated. We want a nice, even puree.
- Strain the Puree: Place a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth-lined colander over a bowl. Pour the honeydew-mint puree into the sieve.
- Extract the Syrup: Use a spoon or spatula to press down on the solids, extracting as much juice as possible. This step is crucial for getting a clear and flavorful syrup. Discard the solids.
- Combine Juice and Sugar: In a small saucepan, combine the strained honeydew-mint juice and granulated sugar.
- Simmer the Syrup: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Reduce Slightly: Once the sugar is dissolved, bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes, or until the syrup has slightly thickened. Be careful not to overcook it, as it will thicken more as it cools.
- Cool Completely: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. As it cools, it will thicken further. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the saucepan in an ice bath.
- Store the Syrup: Once cooled, transfer the honeydew-mint syrup to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Heat the Water: Bring 3 cups of water to a near boil. The ideal temperature for brewing green tea is around 175°F (80°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, let the water cool for a minute or two after boiling.
- Steep the Tea: Place the green tea bags (or loose leaf tea in a tea infuser) into a heatproof pitcher or large glass. Pour the hot water over the tea bags.
- Steeping Time: Steep the tea for 3-4 minutes. Don’t over-steep, as this can make the tea bitter.
- Remove Tea Bags: Remove the tea bags or tea infuser from the pitcher.
- Cool the Tea: Add the remaining 3 cups of cold water to the pitcher to cool the tea down quickly.
- Add Syrup to Tea: Pour the cooled honeydew-mint syrup into the pitcher of green tea. Start with about ½ cup and adjust to taste. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
- Stir Well: Stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure the syrup is evenly distributed.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the iced tea and adjust the sweetness as needed. If it’s not sweet enough, add more syrup. If it’s too sweet, add a little more water or green tea.
- Chill the Tea: For the best flavor, chill the iced tea in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
- Serve Over Ice: Fill glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour and Garnish: Pour the chilled honeydew mint iced tea over the ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and honeydew melon wedges, if desired.
- Enjoy! Sip and savor the refreshing flavors of your homemade honeydew mint iced tea.
Notes
- The type of green tea you use will significantly impact the final flavor of your iced tea. I prefer a mild, slightly sweet green tea like sencha or dragon well, but feel free to experiment with your favorites. Just avoid anything too bitter or grassy.
- Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes for best flavor.
- Syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes