Iced Lemon Tea (Sicilian Style, Bergamot and Rosemary)

teas.co.uk · 8 min · Serves 1

You'll need

• 1 Hyson Lemon Infused Black Tea bag
• 150ml filtered water at a full rolling boil (100°C)
• 1 teaspoon clear acacia honey
• 3 thick wheels of fresh unwaxed lemon (about 6mm thick)
• 1 strip of pared bergamot peel (5cm; or use unwaxed lemon peel if bergamot is unavailable, with 2 drops of Earl Grey bergamot oil as the second best substitute)
• 1 small fresh rosemary sprig (4cm; just a few needles on a stem)
• 250g crushed ice
• Glassware: 350ml tall iced tea glass or stemmed wine glass, pre chilled in the freezer for ten minutes

Method

1. Pre chill the iced tea glass in the freezer for at least ten minutes.
2. Bring the kettle to a full rolling boil. Drop the Hyson Lemon Infused Black Tea bag into a small heatproof jug and pour 150ml of the freshly boiled water straight over.
3. Steep uncovered for three full minutes. Lift the bag out and press it gently against the side of the jug. Stir in the teaspoon of acacia honey while the brew is still hot so it dissolves cleanly.
4. Take the iced tea glass out of the freezer. Fill three quarters with crushed ice.
5. Tuck the three thick lemon wheels down between the ice against the inside of the glass so they show through the side, and slide the small fresh rosemary sprig high in the ice so the needles sit above the rim.
6. Pour the still hot sweetened concentrate over the crushed ice in one steady stream; the ice will roar as it shatters into the hot brew. Within twenty seconds the glass is cold to the touch.
7. Express the strip of pared bergamot peel over the glass (a sharp twist with the oily side down sprays the citrus oil across the surface), then lay the peel on the rim of the glass. Do not drop the peel into the drink; the perfume is what matters here, the peel itself would over extract on contact with the iced tea.
8. Serve immediately with a wide straw. Drink within fifteen minutes. The bergamot perfume from the rim peel keeps the first sips lifted; the thick lemon wheels and rosemary stay perfuming the cup to the bottom.

Recipe: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/iced tea/iced lemon tea sicilian style bergamot and rosemary/