Simple Mint Tea Recipe (Hot or Iced)

Mint grows like a weed in my herb garden. So I make this simple mint tea recipe to use up the surplus. Served hot or over ice, this recipe rocks!

Every day, I take a writing break and check out my garden. It's not just about getting some air—I'm also seeing the progress of all of my plants! 

Now that it's harvest time, I've considered using it. I've loved making homemade mint tea—it's easy, and I'm excited to show you how!

Mint tea is a classic drink that never goes out of style. It's great for after dinner or as an afternoon pick-me-up.

Ingredients

Mint and honey are both natural sweeteners and have antibacterial properties that make them great for soothing sore throats. And lemon juice adds a little extra kick of flavor, making this drink pop!

• Mint: - This recipe can use fresh or dried mint leaves. If you use fresh mint leaves, you will need 2 cups of them. For dried mint leaves, around ½ cup will be enough.
• Water: - You should use filtered or distilled water so that no chemicals are in your drink. You can also use mineral water but make sure that it has no artificial flavors added to it.
• Raw or Infused Honey: I tend to use raw honey in my recipes due to its raw properties, and adding it to hot tea still allows a person to enjoy the benefits of raw honey. If you have flavored or infused honey blends, those would also work great here!

How to Make Mint Tea

Harvest mint leaves and place in a large glass drinking vessel (a mixing bowl will work in a pinch. Transfer it later! 

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.  Pour boiling water over mint leaves and let steep for 20-30 minutes (the longer you let it steep, the stronger the flavor).

Strain mint leaves with a mesh strainer. Add honey or sweetener while the tea is still hot and let it steep as long as possible for complete infusion. 

Add honey to taste (while it's still warm), taste it, and adjust if needed. Once you're happy with your brew, move it to the fridge.

How to make a single cup

If you want to make mint tea for one, follow the same steps as above, except use 1-2 tablespoons of fresh mint per cup of water (or more if you like!). 

Types of mint

Mint is a common herb used in various ways, from flavoring tea to being used as an essential oil. Mint leaves have a distinct flavor, described as sweet, floral, and slightly spicy. There are lots of mine varieties to use for this tea. 

• Lavender Mint is an unusual variety with a light lavender scent that gives off an earthy taste similar to spearmint but with an extra kick of flavor.
• Apple Mint is a fresh, mild mint with a hint of apple flavor. It's great for making tea and adding to salads or smoothies. 
• Eucalyptus Mint is similar to spearmint but with a more robust flavor and an extra punch of eucalyptus oil.
• Peppermint: (hello, candy canes! It has a cool, clean flavor that works well in many dishes.  
• Spearmint is a sweeter variety of mint that's less intense than peppermint and has a milder taste. 
• Chocolate mint: This mint has a sweet chocolate flavor with hints of mint that make it perfect for tea! It's best used fresh in drinks because it loses its flavor when dried or frozen.
• Orange mint: This mint has a citrusy orange flavor with hints of mint that make it perfect for tea! It's best used fresh in drinks because it loses its flavor when dried or frozen.

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