Great Southern Sweet Tea Slush

If you are looking for the prefect summer party starter give this refreshing recipe a try!  A delicious “secret” from the south is the Great Southern Sweet Tea Slush which we are sharing with you today.

Sweet tea can be traced back to the 1800’s in the US and is firmly rooted in the South. In fact, every good Southerner has their “perfect” sweet tea recipe.  Recipes vary from ones where you think you are drinking more sugar than tea, to others that incorporate wonderfully tasty fruits like peaches and strawberries.

You can try this super easy process with other drinks as well.

GREAT SOUTHERN SWEET TEA SLUSH

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 cups sweet tea (homemade with one of Simpson and Vail’s fantastic Iced Teas, sweetened to taste) divided
• 1 lemon juiced (approximately 2 Tablespoons),
• Garnish: Fresh strawberries and/or lemon slices

Not sure which tea to try, check out one of these:

African Outback, Organic herbal “tea”

The combination of Organic Rooibos with Organic Lemon Myrtle makes this healthy blend an outstanding tisane that has a pleasing citrus flavor. (caffeine free)

Candy Cane, Organic Herbal “tea”

Fabulous hot or iced (so yes you can enjoy it in the summer too!) and with no added sugar, this calorie free blend is sure to please. (caffeine free)

Dragonfruit Rooibos, Herbal “tea”

This colorful green rooibos blend is an ultimate palate pleaser! The sweet fruit aroma is intoxicating and the brewed cup yields a ruby-red herbal delight with a sweet and refreshing tropical taste that lingers deliciously on the tongue. (caffeine free)

Iced Tea Blend, Black tea

This old-time formula incorporates Ceylon, China & Indian teas, with a splash of bergamot, to make a bright amber cup with a smooth well-rounded taste. The subtle citrus notes make this an ideal blend for iced tea!

Moroccan Mint, Green tea

Transport yourself to a land of desert sands, caravans and palm tree filled oasis, with Moroccan Mint a delicious blend of spearmint and green tea. The green tea unfurls into large leaves, with a pale ecru cup and a strong minty flavor.

White Ambrosia

This delectable blend combines a special grade Pai Mu tan white tea, with flower petals and apricot and mango flavors to create a truly exquisite cup!  The aroma is enticing and mouthwatering and the taste is light and delicate with the fruit flavors tasting fresh and slightly sweet. White Ambrosia was an instant hit here – we think you’ll also find this to be true!

Directions:

• Fill 2 ice cube trays with your choice of prepared sweet tea*. Freeze a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight. (Every freezer is different but you want ice to be solid.) Reserve the remaining sweet tea mixture by placing in the back of your fridge, the coldest area. (Approximately 2 cups)
• Once cubes have frozen remove them from the trays and put them in your blender.
• Add fresh lemon juice, the reserved cold sweet tea (about 2 cups) and blend for 30 seconds or until all of the ice is crushed. Some blenders have a setting to crush ice or a NutriBullet does a great job! The ideal motor to crush ice in a blender ranges from between 1000 watts to 1500 watts. This is enough to crush the ice easily.
• * Variation: You can fill ice cube trays with unsweetened tea and when adding cubes to the blender substitute a sweet juice (like mango) instead of the lemon juice.  This works particularly well with green teas.

HOW TO MAKE IT SLUSH!!

This is where the magic happens:

• Remove from blender and place the sweet tea mixture in the freezer in a pitcher (or in your favorite heavy glasses – we like mason jars) for 10-15 minutes to get a creamy “slush-like” consistency.
• If you placed the mixture in a pitcher you can now pour into your favorite serving glasses.
• Garnish with lemon slices, strawberries on a long toothpick or a drink umbrella. Add a straw for sipping and you’ve go the perfect drink to combat hot Summer days!

Adult options: If you want to add some kick to your Great Southern Sweet Tea Slush try adding a shot of your favorite chilled whiskey or flavored schnapps before freezing. There are so many flavorful combinations you can try!

Enjoy!