Technically a tisane, because no tea leaves are involved in its brewing, this drink can be served either warm or chilled. It uses only natural, unprocessed sweeteners, making it an excellent alternative to sodas and conventional iced tea beverages.
Ingredients
1 ½ quarts water
½ cup fresh mint
1/3 cup lemon juice
3/8 cup strongly-flavored honey
4 tablespoons fresh ginger
1 medium lemon
Peel and chop the ginger. Slice the lemon thinly into rounds. Combine the ginger, water and lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Add the mint, remove from heat entirely, and allow to steep for 5 to 8 minutes. Use a fine sieve to remove the mint leaves and ginger, which can be discarded after use. Stir in the honey and serve warm or cold with a lemon slice floating on top.