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It’s hot outside, and when it’s hot like THIS, there is nothing quite so refreshing as a tall glass of cool, sweet tea. “Sweet Tea” is a Southern tradition. Although now rooted in Berkeley CA, Tennessee-born eco-chef Bryant Terry, author of “GRUB: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen,” knows Sweet Tea …
Bryant says: When it comes to non-alcoholic, beverage staples from The South, Sweet Tea will consistently be in the top two, along with lemonade. And it ain't called "sweet" for nothing. Although Sweet Tea usually comes pre-sweetened with refined white sugar, most people add just “a lil' bit more” of some kind of sweetener when it hits the table.
I created this equally sweet version that will satisfy the most selective Sweet Tea connoisseurs, and won't give drinkers an insulin spike. Wholesome Sweeteners’ Organic Blue Agave syrup is becoming a popular food and beverage sweetener in general, but it is especially good for non-insulin dependent diabetics, as it is a low glycemic index sugar substitute. It's pleasantly sweet, can be used in a range of dishes, and lacks that chemical-ly taste of a lot of chemical sweeteners like acesulfame-K, aspartame, and sucralose.
I intentionally over-sweetened this tea in order for it to even out once ice is added. Enjoy!” -- bryant
Agave-Sweetened Double-Orange Pekoe Tea
Ingredients
12 cups cold water
2 2-inch sticks of cinnamon
12 orange pekoe black tea bags
2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1½ cups Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave nectar (see note below)
Ice cubes
Thin orange wedges, garnish
Method
In a stockpot, combine the water and cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, orange juice, lemon juice, and blue agave nectar. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
Allow the tea to cool. Remove the tea bags with a slotted spoon.
Ladle into glasses filled with ice and garnish with orange wedges.
Yield: about 1 gallon
Note from the Sugar Club: Use Organic Raw Blue Agave nectar for a slightly richer flavor profile.
For other summer cooler ideas, visit Wholesome's Recipe Library’s beverage recipe collection. |