Sweet Peach Tea

"Sweet tea is widely considered to be the house wine of the South. ÂWhen peaches are at their peak, Âyou can enjoy this Âfruity warm weather specialty combining sweet tea with the favored fruit of Summer. ÂFor the best results choose peaches that are sightly soft to the touch and fragrant.  Peach tea can be sweetened Âto your taste and the amount can vary slightly depending on the sweetness of the peaches. ÂChill to allow the flavors to combine then pour over frozen peach slices just before serving. ÂIt’s a genuine treat to cool down those hot Summer days . ÂLaunch the gallery for step-by-step pictures and instructions.Sweet Peach TeaBy Melissa Sperka Makes 8 servingsActive Time20 min. Total Time4 hr. 20 min. Includes 4 hour freeze time for peaches Print Ingredients 4 large peaches, divided4 family size tea bagscold water½ cup fresh lemon juice1 cup granulated sugarfresh mintKey Tagsdrinksfruitpeachessouthernsummer drinksSweet Tea DirectionsHalve 2 peaches and remove the pit. Cut approximately into ½ inch slices. Place in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze for 4 hours until solid or overnight.On the stove top, bring 4 cups of cold water to a rolling boil. Remove from the heat and add 4 family-size tea bags. Cover and steep for 12 minutes. Remove the tea bags adding 1 cup of granulated sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Peel and pit the remaining 2 peaches. Cut into cubes. Place into a stand blender with ½ cup fresh lemon juice. Puree the peaches until smooth then push through a fine mesh sieve to remove the pulp. Mix with the tea. Pour into a 2.5 quart pitcher adding enough cold water to fill ¾ from the top. Stir until fully combined. Chill well.To serve, add frozen peach slices to the pitcher and glasses in place of ice cubes. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired. Kitchen Counter Makes 8 servings. About the AuthorMelissa Sperka is the creator, Publisher, recipe developer and photographer of the blogMelissa’s Southern Style Kitchen. After winning the National Flour Power! baking contest, she also gained national attention withher blue ribbon Nested Potato Skins, featured in Southern Living Magazine. To Melissa, “Southern style” isn’t just about regional food, but about serving homemade dishes with grace, charm, and a healthy dose of Southern hospitality. In Melissa’s kitchen homemade family-style meals are always on the menu...."