My Big Fat Greek Iced Tea

My recipe for Greek-style pomegranate tea.

• Ready In: 33 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• TO MAKE 2 QUARTS

• 12  bigelow brand pomegranate pizzazz  herbal tea bags
• 6  spearmint  herbal tea bags
• 3  stash brand licorice spice  herbal tea bags
• 8  stalks fresh spearmint
• 4  lemons, kneaded, halved and juiced (saving 4 halves)
• 8  cinnamon sticks
• 1⁄2 cup  premium honey (2/3 cup for sweet tea)
• 1⁄4 cup  grenadine (1/3 cup for sweet tea)

Directions

1. POUR 2 quarts filtered water into a large stainless steel pot.
2. REMOVE the leaves from 8 stalks of fresh spearmint; ADD spearmint leaves to pot; ADD 8 cinnamon sticks; SET heat to high.
3. ADD 12 Pomegranate Pizzazz tea bags, 6 spearmint tea bags, 3 licorice spice tea bags.
4. BRING mixture to a gentle boil; REDUCE heat to low; SIMMER 3-5 minutes; REMOVE tea from heat.
5. WASH lemons well and cut in half; SQUEEZE juice from lemons, reserving 4 lemon halves; SET aside lemon juice or chill.
6. ADD the 4 reserved lemon halves and 1/2 cup premium honey to hot tea brew; ALLOW mixture to steep and cool down.
7. STRAIN tea when cooled through mesh strainer into a pitcher (save and set aside cinnamon sticks for garnish); ADD the fresh lemon juice and the grenadine to tea; STIR well (Tea may be diluted with cold filtered water if you desire a subtler tasting tea).
8. POUR tea into tall glasses filled with ice. Place 1 lemon slice on rim of each glass; add 1 stick cinnamon and 1 sprig fresh mint to tea to garnish.
9. AS A COCKTAIL: Add desired amount of ouzo liqueur to iced shaker or glass; FILL with tea; SHAKE or STIR; GARNISH.
10. SERVE and ENJOY!