A Refreshing Summer Drink

It provides me much excitemint to share a refreshing drink with you and since it is now officially summer, it's the perfect time. Many of you are probably already familiar with meadow tea, which is a drink made from fresh mint leaves. It appears to be of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. I first became familiar with it after reading about it in an Amish story. Later I saw the product sold in an Amish grocery during a stop in Shipshewana, IN during a trip. By the way, stopping in that store and having the opportunity to shop alongside Amish families with their sweet little children was a wonderful experience! You can click here read a snippet about a visit to Shipshewana, although the grocery store is not mentioned or photographed in the post. 

I received this big pot of mint plants (spearmint, peppermint and sweet mint) and have so enjoyed using fresh leaves for tea, as garnish in fresh fruit, etc. I can take no credit for the following recipe as it is universal. I am just sharing in case you have not tried it before.

Meadow Tea

2 quarts of water

1 cup of fresh mint leaves, removed from the stems, which have been washed and carefully inspected for tiny insects

1/2 cup sugar (adjust to your liking; I use very little)

Bring two quarts of water to a full boil. Remove from the heat, immediately add a cup of fresh mint leaves and place a lid on the pan. Allow it to steep for 2 1/2 hours. After time is up, remove the mint leaves (I strain mine) and stir in your sugar until it is dissolved. Store your meadow tea in the refrigerator. Add fresh leaves when you serve it, if you wish.

If you want to print it, click here.

This batch that I prepared looks more amber colored than ususal. I had my measuring cup packed of mint leaves, so that may be the reason. The taste is unaffected.

Perhaps you, too, will find excitemint in this drink!