Ginger-Tea Lemonade
Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous here in Pittsburgh. The temperature hovered in the upper-60’s all day, the sun was warm like your favorite blanket, and there was a wispy breeze that shot through the trees every so often. A reliable spring day that gave off a hint of summer, just waiting in the wings to bloom completely. It was the type of day that made us wish we had a house in the country with a wrap-around porch (or a house on the beach, with a patio or balcony overlooking the ocean), a big comfortable chair to sit in, a warm afternoon breeze, a favorite book, and some sort of ice cold, refreshing drink. That was our daydream. And this is our daydream drink.
Most people recognize the typical half-lemonade, half-iced tea drink as an “Arnold Palmer” – a drink popularized by its namesake, the golfer Arnold Palmer. Truth be told, we can usually take or leave both lemonade and iced tea. We like them well enough, but never crave them. However, black tea with fresh lemon juice, a ginger-spiked simple syrup and the refreshing bubbly of sparkling water sounded like summer perfection to us. And boy was we right. It’s definitely the drink we will make to celebrate our dream house in the country or on the beach!
Black tea, lemons, ginger and bubbles now seem like the most obvious combination of ingredients. Garnish with a little mint if you’d like and we think you’re set for summer. We know we are.
Two years ago: Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte
Three years ago: From-scratch Marshmallows
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- Prep: 30 minutes
- Total: 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Ginger Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup ( 200 g ) granulated sugar
- 1 cup ( 250 ml ) water
- 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
For the Lemonade:
- 2 cups ( 500 ml ) water
- 3 black tea bags, preferably English breakfast tea
- 1-1/3 cups ( 112.33 g ) Ginger Simple Syrup, recipe follows
- ⅔ cup ( 162.67 ml ) fresh lemon juice, from 3 to 4 lemons
- 1 cup ( 474 ml ) sparkling water or club soda, chilled
- 2 cups ( 28 g ) ice
- Lemon slices, for garnish, optional
Method
- 1. Make the Ginger Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, over medium heat, combine the sugar, water and ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes. Strain before using.
- 2. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and add the tea bags. Stir and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add the Ginger Simple Syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water.
- 3. Put the ice in a large pitcher. Pour the lemonade mixture over the ice. Garnish with lemon slices and serve.
