Description
A refreshing and unique twist on classic lemonade, combining tart cherries, black tea, and zesty lemon for a perfectly balanced and satisfying drink.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups water
- 1 cup dried tart cherries
- 6 black tea bags (English Breakfast or Earl Grey recommended)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (approx. 8–10 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh cherries, for garnish (optional)
- Lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
- Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Water and Cherries: In a large saucepan or pot, combine the 8 cups of water and 1 cup of dried tart cherries. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer and Infuse: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes. The liquid should turn a deep red color.
- Add Tea Bags: Remove the pot from the heat and add the 6 black tea bags. Let the tea bags steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Sweeten the Concentrate: Remove the tea bags, squeezing them gently. Add the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar to the hot cherry tea and stir until dissolved. Adjust sweetness as needed.
- Strain and Cool: Strain the cherry tea concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve (lined with cheesecloth if available) to remove any cherry pulp or tea leaves. Let the concentrate cool completely to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Juice the Lemons: Squeeze the juice from approximately 8-10 lemons to yield 1 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice. Remove any seeds.
- Make a Simple Syrup (Optional, but Recommended): Combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the syrup cool completely before using.
- Combine Lemon Juice, Sugar (or Simple Syrup), and Water: In a large pitcher, combine the 1 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice, 1 cup of granulated sugar (or the cooled simple syrup), and 4 cups of cold water. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust the sweetness and tartness to your liking.
- Chill the Lemonade: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the lemonade for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together and for the lemonade to get nice and cold.
- Combine Cherry Tea Concentrate and Lemonade: In a large pitcher or beverage dispenser, combine the chilled cherry tea concentrate and the chilled lemonade. Start with a 1:1 ratio (equal parts cherry tea concentrate and lemonade) and then adjust to taste.
- Taste and Adjust: Give the mixture a taste and adjust the flavors as needed.
- Serve Over Ice: Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the cherry tea lemonade over the ice.
- Garnish (Optional): Garnish with fresh cherries, lemon slices, and/or fresh mint sprigs.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust the sweetness of both the cherry tea concentrate and the lemonade to your personal preference.
- Experiment with different types of tea in the cherry tea concentrate.
- For a fizzy version, top each glass with sparkling water or club soda.
- For an adult version, add a shot of vodka, gin, or rum to each glass.
- Infuse the cherry tea concentrate or the lemonade with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil.
- Freeze the cherry tea concentrate or the lemonade in ice cube trays for later use.
- Experiment with sweet cherries as well. If using sweet cherries, you might want to reduce the amount of sugar you add.
- Add lemon zest to the lemonade for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
- Add a pinch of ground ginger or a cinnamon stick to the cherry tea concentrate while it’s simmering for a warm and spicy twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes