A few years ago my taste buds changed forever and I stopped drinking traditional Southern sweet tea. I have no idea what happened, but ever since I have been looking for a new iced tea to take it’s place — and I think I found it! This sweetened cucumber green tea certainly has a lot going for it! It’s sweet, cold, and really really good! The cucumber simple syrup provides the green tea with all of the sweetness we look forward to during those hot summer days. Add a little ice and sliced cucumbers and you have a refreshing drink you can enjoy while sitting on your porch, out in your beach chair, or take along to your next picnic.
Sweet Cucumber Green Tea
(Makes 5-6 Servings)
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 5 Cups Water
- 1 Seedless Cucumber
- 3-5 Green Tea Bags
- Ice
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to boil. Add tea bags and remove from heat. Allow tea to brew for 5 minutes. Discard bags. Pour tea into a heat-safe container and chill in refrigerator.
Peel and slice cucumber, set aside (keep chilled).
Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. On medium heat, stir sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. Add eight cucumber slices and continue to heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour simple sugar and cucumber slices into a heat safe cup and set aside to cool at room temperature.
Combine green tea and cucumber simple syrup in a large tea jar (reserve cucumbers from syrup, discard). Return to refrigerator to chill until you are ready to serve.
To serve (or prepare for picnic transport), add chilled cucumbers to a Mason jar, add ice, top with additional cucumbers and pour tea over them. Cover with Mason jar lids and enjoy your picnic!
