Mega Mint Tea
Always refreshing. Great with Orange mint or lemon mint also. I planted orange mint last year and of all my mint varieties, it's become my favorite. I am about out of what I dried, so I was happy to see it sprouting yesterday. If you like it sweet, add sugar, or truvia when boiling the water, and if you like the tipsy version, add any of your favorite liqueurs, fruit flavored, or a nice bourbon, or some half and half and a little kahlua is refreshing in iced tea also.
Always refreshing. Great with Orange mint or lemon mint also. I planted orange mint last year and of all my mint varieties, it's become my favorite. I am about out of what I dried, so I was happy to see it sprouting yesterday. If you like it sweet, add sugar, or truvia when boiling the water, and if you like the tipsy version, add any of your favorite liqueurs, fruit flavored, or a nice bourbon, or some half and half and a little kahlua is refreshing in iced tea also.
- Carbohydrate 1.27832000108063 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0.1109600000938 g
- Fiber 1.03360002986545 g
- Protein 0.500080000422743 g
- Saturated Fat 0.0290320000245422 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (252g)
- Sodium 14.0400000118687 mg
- Sugar 0.244719971215175 g
- Trans Fat 0.0182400000154192 g
- Calories 7 calories
Step-by-step
- Pour boiling water over Lipton® Iced Tea Brew Family Size Tea Bags and mint.
- Brew 5 minutes.
- Remove Tea Bags and mint.
- Stir in ice water and chill until ready to serve.
- Serve in ice-filled glasses and sweeten as desired.
Swapping standard peppermint for spearmint fundamentally alters the final herbal balance because spearmint contains less menthol and significantly higher levels of carvone, yielding a sweeter, milder flavor profile that lacks the sharp medicinal punch expected here. Testing this formula repeatedly reveals distinct flaws in standard hot-steeping methods applied to delicate leaves. Control variables carefully to achieve proper extraction without bitterness.
- Water temperature matters immensely; pour water brought strictly to 212 degrees Fahrenheit over the leaves, as boiling water maintains the necessary heat energy to extract aromatic volatile oils without scorching them.
- Steeping duration requires strict timing at exactly 5 minutes, because exceeding this window releases excess tannins from the black tea base, turning the liquid astringent and unpleasantly bitter.
- Crushing fresh mint leaves slightly against the container wall before adding liquid ruptures cell walls, accelerating the release of essential oils into the brew.
- Storage limits dictate keeping the chilled liquid in an airtight glass container for no longer than 48 hours, after which the delicate herbaceous notes oxidize and flatten noticeably.
Pairing this beverage with rich, fat-heavy foods like sharp cheddar or buttered shortbread creates necessary contrast, cutting through heavy dairy components on the palate. Proper chilling ensures the aromatic compounds remain vibrant upon pouring over fresh ice.
