Drinks Recipe
Make Drinks Recipe in just 25m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Classic Lemon Iced Tea (serves 4)
Sparkling Cucumber-Mint Lemonade (serves 4)
Vanilla Iced Cold Brew (serves 4)
Method
Classic Lemon Iced Tea (serves 4)
Brew tea
Bring 4 cups of water to a near boil (about 200°F / 93°C). Remove from heat and add 4 black tea bags. Steep for 4–5 minutes for a full flavor but not overly bitter.
Sweeten and cool
Remove the tea bags, gently pressing each against the side of the pot to extract flavor, then discard. While tea is still warm, stir in 1 tablespoon granulated sugar until dissolved. Let the tea cool to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes) or place in refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
Add lemon and serve
Stir in 1 cup fresh lemon juice into the cooled tea. Fill a pitcher with 2 cups ice, pour the lemon tea over the ice, and stir. Taste and adjust sweetness (add up to 1–2 tbs sugar or simple syrup if desired). Garnish with 4 lemon slices and optional mint leaves. Serve immediately over additional ice.
Sparkling Cucumber-Mint Lemonade (serves 4)
Prepare cucumber juice
Peel (optional) and roughly chop 1 seedless cucumber. Place pieces in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or measuring cup, pressing with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. You should get about 1/2 to 3/4 cup cucumber juice.
Combine and chill
In a pitcher, combine the cucumber juice, 1 cup fresh lemon juice and 3 tablespoons simple syrup. Stir to combine. Add 2 cups ice and 8 mint sprigs (lightly bruise the mint by clapping between your palms or gently crushing with a spoon to release oils).
Top with bubbles and serve
Just before serving, pour 4 cups cold sparkling water into the pitcher and stir gently to combine so you don’t lose carbonation. Pour into glasses filled with additional ice, garnish each with cucumber slices and a mint sprig. Adjust sweetness with more simple syrup to taste.
Simple syrup note
If you don’t have simple syrup: combine equal parts sugar and water (for example 1/2 cup sugar + 1/2 cup water) in a small saucepan, heat gently until sugar dissolves, then cool. Use 3 tablespoons of this syrup for the recipe.
Vanilla Iced Cold Brew (serves 4)
Assemble drink
Divide 4 cups cold brew coffee among four tall glasses filled with ice (about 1 cup each).