This Honeydew & Garden Mint Tea blends sweet honeydew, fresh mint, clover honey, and lime for a bright, refreshing iced beverage, served with melon balls and mint leaves over ice.
Recipe Information
Yield:
10 servings (6 ounces each)
Ingredients
4 cups lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus additional leaves for serving
6½ cups water, divided
½ small honeydew melon, seeded and rind removed
¼ cup clover honey
¼ cup fresh lime juice
Directions
- In a large heatproof bowl, place 4 cups mint; set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat; pour over mint leaves. Steep mint, uncovered, for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl or an 8-cup glass measuring cup; discard mint. Transfer tea to a 3-quart pitcher; cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until well chilled.
- Meanwhile, cut the melon in half. Cut one portion into 1-inch cubes; cut remaining half portion into balls with a melon baller. Place melon balls in a covered container; refrigerate until serving.
- In a large blender, place the cubed melon, remaining ½ cup water, honey and lime juice. Cover and blend until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over the pitcher with tea; discard pulp.
- To serve, set aside some of the melon balls. Stir remaining melon balls and additional mint leaves into tea in pitcher. Pour tea into ice-filled glasses; garnish with the reserved melon balls and additional mint, if desired.