How to Make Amish Meadow Iced Tea

If you've ever visted Pennsylvania Dutch Country, it's very likely you've experienced this refreshing mint tea. Popular amongst the Amish, you can often find the frozen concentrate in Amish or Mennonite owned grocery stores. This recipe will make enough concentrate for a total of six quarts of tea. This tea is best made with any fresh spearmint flavored mint leaves, such as Apple.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed mint (tender tops and leaves only)
• 1 12-oz can frozen lemon juice
• 1 6-oz can frozen orange juice

1. Place mint leaves in large container with cover. A 2-quart container for beverages works well.

2. Bring sugar and water to a boil, boiling for five minutes.

3. Pour boiled mixture over mint leaves. Cover container and let stand for one hour.

4. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Manually squeeze any remaining juices out of the mint leaves.

5. Add the lemon and orange juices. Stir.

6. This mixture can be frozen until ready to use. To use concentrate, add 1 1/2 quarts of water to 1/2 quart of concetrate. Serve chilled.

Tips & Warnings

• In Pennsylvania, this is often made with wild grown "fuzzy mint," characterized by it's fuzzy leaves and having a spearmint flavor. An Amish farmer recommended Apple mint as a close substitute due to similar characteristics. This can commonly be found in any nursery in the spring. It grows well in planters and, like any mint, will spread if planted in a garden. If Apple mint isn't a possibility, any fresh mint leaves from the grocery store will work, although those that are spearmint will provide the most authentic flavor.
• When freezing the concentrate, pour it into ice cube trays. One tray will hold approximately a 1/2 quart of concentrate. Either store in the trays or transfer one tray into a ziploc freezer bag when frozen. When ready to make mix, add 1 1/2 quarts water to one tray of concentrate cubes.