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Refreshing Cherry Tea Lemonade

Refreshing Cherry Tea Lemonade

A delightful blend of tart lemonade, sweet cherry syrup, and steeped black tea, perfect for a hot summer day.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Beverage, Summer Drink
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cherry Syrup
  • 1 cup Frozen or Fresh Cherries Pitted
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Water
For the Tea Base
  • 4 Black Tea Bags Or 2 tsp loose leaf tea
  • 2 cups Boiling Water
For Assembly
  • 1 cup Fresh Lemon Juice About 4-6 lemons
  • 3 cups Cold Water Or more, to taste
  • Ice Ice Cubes For serving
  • Garnish Lemon wheels and fresh cherries Optional

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Prepare the Cherry Syrup: Combine cherries, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Continue to simmer for about 5 minutes until the cherries have softened and the syrup is slightly thickened.
  2. Strain the Syrup: Pour the cherry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and allow the syrup to cool completely (about 15 minutes).
  3. Steep the Tea: Place the tea bags in a heatproof container and pour 2 cups of boiling water over them. Steep for 4 to 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags immediately. Let the strong tea cool down.
  4. Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the cooled cherry syrup, the cooled black tea, the fresh lemon juice, and 3 cups of cold water. Stir well to combine.
  5. Adjust and Chill: Taste the lemonade mixture. Add more cold water if it is too strong or too sweet. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  6. Serve: Fill glasses with ice. Pour the Cherry Tea Lemonade over the ice, garnish with lemon wheels and fresh cherries, and enjoy immediately.

Notes

For a sparkling version, substitute 1 cup of the cold water with chilled club soda or sparkling water just before serving. The cherry syrup can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator.