Lebanese Tea

Submitted by Random Rachel

"A light and refreshing version of iced tea that is served at all the local Greek and Lebanese restaurants. I was quite surprised to discover that this recipe actually originated in the New Orleans / Baton Rouge area. The pine nuts don't add anything to the flavor of the drink, so I usually leave them off. I buy my rose water from a local middle eastern grocery store - you can also find it at world market and whole foods, or online. You can adjust the amounts of sugar, rose water, and lemon juice to suit your tastes."

 

• Ready In: 10mins
• Ingredients: 6
• Yields: 1 gallon
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 3785.0 ml water, divided
• 2 family sized tea bags
• 78.78 ml lemon juice
• 177.44 ml sugar
• 9.85 ml rose water
• 14.79 ml pine nuts (optional)

directions

1. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Place tea bags in a gallon sized pitcher, and pour the boiling water over. Steep for 5-7 minutes.
2. Remove tea bags, and stir in the sugar, lemon juice, and rose water. Stir until sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
3. Top with water until you have 1 gallon of tea. Chill, and serve over ice, with a few pine nuts sprinkled in each glass if desired. I usually leave off the nuts since they don't add to the flavor.

Reviews

[Annacia]

This is SO good. I love the rose water addition and I'm thinking I might need to make a tagine dish tonight to have with this lovely tea. If your not familiar with rose water start with just 1 tsp, taste, add more to suite your liking. Used Splenda for the sugar and added brewed the tea with the pine nuts to get a bit of that flavor as well. Yum. :D

 

[Darleen L.]

Is regular Lipton black tea acceptable? How do you make or where can you find rose water?

 

[Rose V.]

Very similar to the absolutely delicious tea served at Lebanon's Cafe in New Orleans. A great recipe but I have to disagree that the pinenuts are optional: They do, in fact, add a wonderful nuttiness to the tea which is what sets it apart from anything else you'll ever taste. Make it with the pinenuts - it'll make you happy. :-)

 

[Dayna P.]

This is a great recipe, but it is missing Orange Blossom water in addition to the Rose water. It doesn't *need* the pine nuts, but it's soooo good if you have them.

 

[dianasportal]

amazing!! i first experienced lebanese iced tea and lebanon cafe in new orleans, great place to go if you haven't