BLACKBERRY ICED TEA"This recipe for Blackberry Iced Tea adapted from Southern Living magazine uses baking soda to preserve the vibrant colors of the berries in the tea."
3 cups fresh or thawed frozen blackberries
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon chopped mint
a pinch baking soda
6 black tea bags
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 1/2 cups cold water
fresh mint sprigs and fresh blackberries on short wooden skewers (for garnish)
In a large pitcher, combine blackberries and sugar. Use a wooden spoon to crush the berries and mix them with the sugar. Add chopped mint and baking soda. Set aside.
Place tea bags in a large heat-proof quart measuring cup. Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water and let steep 3 minutes. Spoon out the tea bags and squeeze them into the tea; discard the tea bags. Pour the tea into the blackberry mixture. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
Pour the tea through a mesh strainer and discard solids. Return the tea to the pitcher. Add 2 1/2 cups cold water and stir well to dissolve sugar. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
TO SERVE:Pour into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and fresh blackberries on short wooden skewers.
Makes 7 1/2 cups
Adapted from:
Sunset magazineSource: The Associated Press