Fruit Tea!

Without any doubt, this is by far the recipe I am most frequently asked for - and when you try it you'll know why. It is SUPER easy to make, but a little difficult to explain the technique, so I'm really excited to finally get to do this using pictures, rather than over the phone. Now, not only is this southern delicacy irresistibly delicious, it's actually quite healthy (minus the sugar, ha!) because it is LOADED with vitamin C and antioxidants....definitely make this for a sick friend when you take them some chicken soup!



You will need:
2 family size tea bags (or 5 small bags)

2 c GOOD orange juice

1 6 oz can pineapple juice

1 c sugar

1/8 tsp almond extract

5 c water

First, place your tea bags in a microwave safe measuring cup, cover with 2 cups of water, and microwave for approximately 2 1/2 minutes, or just until it wants to start boiling - DONT let it boil, it will burst your tea bags, just get it hot enough it wants to boil. Also, if this is not how you've ever made tea before, don't worry about it, this is just how we do sweet iced tea down here in the South...you're not gonna drink it hot anyways, so go ahead and give in to your southern side and give this method a whirl.

After 2 1/2 min in the microwave, it really needs to steep for another 2 1/2 minutes, so you have a solid 5 minutes to get the rest of the ingredients together. First, add your sugar to your empty pitcher. If you plan to drink this immediately go ahead and use a cup - I know it sounds like a lot, but what can I say? It's just best sweet! The great thing about iced tea is that it continues to steep and strengthen as it sits, so if you make this a day ahead you can easily use half the sugar (and I do!) Also, you will be serving this, as any good southern girl would, in a glass filled to the brim with ice, which will also serve to dilute it a bit.

Now, add your juices and the almond extract. Let's talk a little about the latter. The almond extract is your secret ingredient. You're using such a small amount you might think about adding a little more, or perhaps even leaving it out altogether - DON'T! That tiny bit makes all the difference in the world, and there are absolutely NO SUBSTITUTIONS! I use Watkin's brand, and buy a decent sized jar because my husband wants this stuff all.the.time. You can get a very small, inexpensive bottle at the grocery store though; it will be next to the vanilla extract.











Now back to the tea. Pour your steeped tea into the pitcher with the rest of your oh-so-yummy ingredients, being careful not to lose your tea bags, and give it a little stir. Then take your measuring cup with the used tea bags and add another 2 cups of water to them.

















Press the bags gently with your stirrer (I prefer a wooden spoon) to coax out a little more tea, then pour that into the pitcher, as well. Cover your tea bags one more time with 1 additional cup of water (you should have used 5 cups of water total, and along with your other ingredients will have made approximately 8 cups of fruit tea). Stir it all up, making sure your sugar is dissolved, then pour it over that glass of ice we talked about earlier. You won't be disappointed!