Boy was it was hot yesterday. Like really really hot. The sort of hot that forced me to get my fan out on the bus –  yes I was that girl. But let’s face it when it’s the temperature of Mediterranean Europe why not use fan? I would argue it was a sensible decision.

Anyway, all plans for proper food went out the window, but I haven’t posted all week and wanted to do something. So whilst trapped in a hot slow moving bus, my mind wandered to all sorts of cooling things – Ice Cream (done that), Ice Lollies, (done those as well) – ummm… Ice? (Isn’t that a bit boring?) And then it struck me – a cooling Peach Iced Tea was just what the doctor ordered. The best summer drink imaginable.

Of course you don’t have to use Peach (in fact I used Nectarine) you could use any fruit – what about Mango Iced Tea, Passion fruit, Kiwi, Pineapple – there are so many options. So get creative.

This recipe can be easily adapted and you won’t go wrong.

So if it gets a bit sticky this weekend then why not have a go at whipping up your own batch.

Ingredients

2 Earl Gray Tea Bags

3 Cups of Boiling water

2 Nectarines chopped

Juice ½ a lemon

½ Lemon chopped into slices

4 Tbsp Sugar

a few sprigs of Mint

Extra water

Ice Cubes ( for extra cooling)

Method

1. Boil your kettle and pour your boiling water into a bowl. Steep the tea bags in the water, add the lemon juice, sugar, mint and nectarines
2. Leave to cool for a few hours (after 1 hour I covered mine in cling film and left it in the fridge)
3. Remove from the fridge, add an extra 2/3 cups of water (depending on how strong you like this) and pour in the extra sugar
4. Strain the iced tea (I poured mine into a jug through a sieve – be careful it doesn’t spill everywhere) add the sliced lemon
5. Pour into glasses with ice and add mint to garnish – or whatever you fancy

Then sit with your fan and iced tea and imagine you are a southern belle on holiday, rather than a hot flustered londoner stuck indoors.

Happy weekend everyone – let me know how your iced tea making goes, and if you find any good flavour combos!