Spicy Sun Tea Recipe

This Sun Tea recipe is great for cookouts and just everyday use! It's got a great spicy fragrance and flavor, and the lemon and orange wedges add great fruity notes. Since it's so easy to make, you can make several bottles and let your guests try some other variations!

Ingredients:

8 tea bags
1 3/4-inch piece peeled ginger, sliced thin (also, include any juice that oozes out while you slice it)
2 3-inch pieces of cinnamon stick
10 whole cloves
2 whole allspice
7 cups water

honey
lime and orange wedges
light rum (optional)

Place tea bags, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger and allspice into a clear, empty 2-liter soda bottle with the label removed. You can use a big jar instead, but I like to get a second use out of the PET bottles before I recycle them. Add water, cap the bottle or jar, and set in a bright, sunny spot. Allow to steep for a few hours until the contents look like tea. Personally, I like to brew it for as long as possible to get the strongest flavors.

Shake, then strain directly into pint glasses over ice. Sweeten with honey, and for a kick add 1 oz. rum to each glass. Serve with lime and orange wedges.

Serves 4-6, depending on how much ice you use.

You can add or replace ingredients with mint, anise, fennel, fresh basil, or cardamom pods for interesting effects. Another great taste is adding a tablespoon of frozen fruit juice concentrate (orange and pineapple are great, especially if you're adding rum).

Skol!