Refreshing Moroccan Mint Tea

A couple of weeks ago I was looking at the long list of recipes on one of my favorite blogs, Jenna’s Everything Blog, and happened upon a delicious-looking recipe for Moroccan Mint Tea.  It sounded simple and tasty so I decided that I needed to make it soon.  I mean what else am I going to do with the mint plant in my backyard?  Also, I’m not sure if I’ve previously mentioned that I’m a tea-freak.  Well, I am.  In fact, (or in fiction) my home is only 900 square feet, but I’ve dedicated at least 100 of those feet to my tea habit.  I mainly have loose leaf, because I’m snobby like that, but I have some bagged tea as well.  I like green the most, but also enjoy earl grey, yerba mate, jasmine, chrysanthemum, and mint.

So I really need to get back on topic, sorry.  It was about 90 degrees here today and the hubby and I had just returned from a hike.  We were in the yard admiring our beautiful garden, when a metaphorical light bulb went off inside my noggin.  I was looking at my bushy, mint plant and remembered Jenna’s Moroccan Mint Tea recipe.  What a beautiful coincidence it was…we were hot and thirsty, and we had fresh mint staring us in the face!

Do you see?  It was staring at me…

Here’s what you will need to create the above deliciousness:

*one bunch fresh mint, or 7-10 sprigs 
*5 cups water
*2-3 TBS sugar (could substitute honey or stevia or omit sweetener)
*5 tsp loose leaf green tea or 3 tea bags

Any variety of green tea could be used but I used this decaf lemon, ginger green tea that I had lying around.

Hello, my name is Tobi and I have a tea drinking problem…and this is only part of it.

Make sure to wash the lovely, fragrant mint.

Add all of the ingredients to a medium pan and give it a little stir.

Bring the mixture to a boil and once it’s boiling remove it from the heat, cover, and let it steep for 3 minutes.  I let mine steep for 5 and it was just fine.

After the minutes are up, strain all of the “chunks” out.  I’m sorry, chunks isn’t a very nice word, but I can’t think of a better one at the moment.

Chill the tea in the ol’ friggerator til it’s nice and cool, unless you have a chill pill that you could give it.  Either way, once it’s cold, go sit on the patio and sip away.  It’s amazing and refreshing, but don’t take my word for it, make it yourself with that mint you planted and don’t know what to do with.

It was blissful served with watermelon.  Have you ever experienced watermelon and mint together?  DO IT.  Seriously, it’s such a brilliant combo.

Cheers, Tobi