Everyone knows I’m a sucker for the south, not a day goes by I don’t start dreaming of Charleston and wishing I was sitting on my wrap around porch of an old plantation home sipping on a glass of sweet tea from a mason jar! 😉 (A girl can dream can’t she?) After the weekend, filled with sunshine, warm temps, and a day full of gardening I decided it was the perfect day to make my Back Porch Lavender Sun Tea. Usually I add peaches but since we’re far from peach season, I used fresh strawberries and my chocolate mint has already come in so I made sure to snatch up a handful for this recipe! My daughter loved it so much she actually stopped helping put onions, potatoes, and peas in so she could sit on the front step of the porch and sip from her cup. Girl after my own heart! Today looks like the last day in my area for 70 degree temps, it’s dropping back down in the high 40’s by Wednesday so get out there and make some of your own so you can pretend it’s warm and spring like again! Here’s my take on southern sweet tea just with a health twist and not all that processed sugar.

Makes 3-4 Servings

  •  5-6 green tea bags
  •  3-4 fresh strawberries
  •  2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
  •  2 tablespoons honey
  •  1 lemon- sliced
  •  2 tablespoons chocolate mint (more sprigs for garnish)- Other mint can be added instead of chocolate mint
  •  Ice

Bring water to a boil. In a pitcher add tea bags, pour boiling water into pitcher and let steep for 15-20 minutes. In a separate container using a tea strainer, add lavender and mint, then steep for 8-10 minutes. Compost used lavender and mint leaves. Add lavender and mint infusion to pitcher with tea bags. Add lemon slices and honey. Stir well. Let tea sit in the sun for an hour or more too cool and absorb all the flavors. In a mason jar, add ice and pour tea. Garnish with mint sprigs.