Peach Iced Tea

Ingredients:

450g ripe peaches (about 3 medium peaches)
1/2 cup honey
8 cups filtered water
8 black tea bags
1 large lemon, sliced
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (plus more for serving)

Directions:

1. Make the peach syrup: Finely chop 2 peaches and combine in a small saucepan with the honey and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the honey, and mash the peaches, pressing them against the sides of the saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the syrup to absorb the peach color and flavor. Then remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, pour the peach syrup through a fine sieve to remove any solids.
2. Make the tea: Add 4 cups of filtered water to a teapot or small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags, cover and let steep for 8 minutes (until the water is a dark amber color). Then discard the tea bags and let the tea cool to room temperature.
3. Pour the strained peach syrup and tea into a large pitcher and add the remaining 3 cups of filtered water. Thinly slice the remaining peach. Set aside a few lemon slices and mint sprigs for garnish in the glasses, and add the peach slices, remaining citrus fruit and mint to the main pitcher. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
4. Decorate and serve: Add ice cubes to glasses and pour over tea. Add citrus fruit slices and fresh mint leaves to each glass.

NOTE: This recipe makes a lightly sweetened tea. If you prefer it sweeter, add an additional 1/4 cup of honey to the peach syrup.
To speed up the chilling process, add 4 cups of ice cubes (instead of 3 cups of water) to the tea and syrup mixture and serve with additional ice cubes.

Recipe: themediterraneandish.com