My mom shared this recipe with me. If your mint is growing as furiously as mine, maybe you'd like to try this too! It sure makes a quick way to serve meadow tea when friends are coming over!
Ingredients:
2 qts. water
4 c. mint leaves, packed
3 c. sugar - or to your taste. I use 2 cups.
In large kettle, bring water & sugar to a boil. Boil 5 min. Turn off heat. Add the mint leaves & let stand until cold. Strain mint leaves. To use, mix 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water. I freeze the concentrate in quarts, which then makes 1 gallon.
We tried the tea and it was a really big hit!! I was raised drinking homegrown mint tea with NO sugar, so this next batch (they're picking some now) I'm going to try just 1 c. of sugar and see how they like it.
ReplyDeleteGina,
ReplyDeleteI bought a little pot of mint about a month ago. I'm not really sure how to tend it. Some of it keeps going brown on me. Am I letting it grow too long before I pick it? Also, it has almost a lemon like flavor. Is that normal? I've had a lot of dried peppermint tea here but this is my first shot at the plant. ...Its in a pot on my front porch...I planted the little container that it came in in potting soil as the cup it came in is supposed to break down. Would love tips and hints for growing this!!
Also, I made your blender lemonade and I love making it that way!!!
I have a post on my blog about how I try to make the most of citrus fruits...zest, juice, leave in vinegar for cleaner...but making the lemonade like this makes me feel I'm not wasting! :-) (Especially if I lightly grate for zest first!) ...But this way makes an excellent lemonade that has been repeatedly requested around here since I first made it! And its far better than squeezing all of them! Love it!
Donna,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why your mint would be turning brown. Maybe over watering? Do you let it dry out between waterings? But then too little watering could also cause browning. It should grow fine whether or not you harvest it.
There is many different kinds of mints. There is seriously dozens of different varieties. You probably have a lemon mint, unless you have lemon balm which looks quite similar and also makes a good tea. You have the right idea of placing it in a pot. Mint grows rampantly and will devour anything in it's way!
Glad you are enjoying the lemonade!
Gina
I had my mint on the front porch as well - we've had a very hot summer and the mint was standing in a pot in the full sun all day long, so it turned brown despite me watering it well (not overwatering, though). I think it might have get sunburned, and maybe so was Donna's. Ever since I moved the pot to the shade, the mint started growing and getting green again.
DeleteHmm, I'm not sure what I'm doing - perhaps both! :-) I will have to regulate it better I think.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered if this wasn't lemon balm even though it says mint. :-)
I think U may B right!
(The leaves are very jagged on the edges, not smooth and straight. I thought mint was smooth and straight.) I had no idea there were many kinds! Thank You!
What kind of mint are you recommending? Peppermint is usually quite strong,can you use spearmint leaves? And do the leaves have to be dried first? thanks for your help.
ReplyDeleteI use spearmint with occasionally a little black peppermint thrown in. I'm sure other mints would work too, spearmint is just what I use.
DeleteThis recipe is using fresh leaves.
Gina
Gina
DeleteI was wonder if you ever tried to can the tea concentrate. I make this every summer for the winter months. I'm limited freezer space and was wondering if I could can it.
Thank
Gayle Gehman
My mom has canned tea concentrate so I know it is easily done. She likes that you don't need to wait until itis thoughts but can use it straight out of the jar!
DeleteGina
I would love to try canning it! Does it taste the same as the frozen kind? Do you have any tips on how to do it?
DeleteI never tried canning it - but since my mom liked it - I expect that it is good!
DeleteGina
I just found your blog looking for quilt tips. I love your blog! and have signed on to follow you. I'm from a big eastern city and I've been making meadow tea for about 7 years now. I received the recipe from my daughter who received it from her plain community friends. It's exactly the same recipe! I use a combination of chocolate mint, rose mint and orange mint. My crop was very poor this year and I was not able to make my winter supply of concentrate. I will miss it very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your blog. It reconnects me to my Mennonite past. I love your recipes and use your bread recipes often. My daughter found your blog about 2 months ago and passed it on. Bless you and your family.
ReplyDelete