My childhood was a mixture of Southern and Northern influence. I was born in the Chicago area and lived there until I was 9. Then, we packed up and moved down to North Carolina to be closer to my Dad’s side of the family.
My Mom’s side still lives near Chicago and we visit them at least once a year (we are visiting next week actually, Go Cubbies! Go Hawk-ies? LOL). Before we moved down to NC we used to visit a lot and I loved being able to see my aunts and uncles, cousins but especially my Grandma.
She was Southern to the core (even though she lived in Chicago too for a large portion of her life) and always made my favorite foods. The one things she ALWAYS served with a meal was, you guessed it: sweet iced tea!
I made my own version of it today, infused with mint and fresh plums to go along with our fun summer picnic!
Mint & Plum Infused Iced Tea
I knew I wanted to put together a cute little picnic lunch for my Hubby and I this weekend.
I was making cornbread with blackberry honey butter, mini banana puddings, and fried chicken. I just needed something to wash it all down and I thought, duh! This is a Southern picnic, you HAVE to have sweet iced tea!
I bought everything the day before and I set to work preparing the items I could when I got home because we were going to have the picnic the next day. I do this often, especially since it was going to be a lunchtime picnic I didn’t want to spend my morning slaving over the preparations and then not enjoying myself!
The night before I made my fried chicken, blackberry honey butter, cornbread, everything done for the banana puddings except for assembling them and the infused iced tea.
Mint & Plum Infused Iced Tea
I added the mint and plums right to the mason jars and let it infuse overnight.
Ingredients
- 2 bags Lipton Cold Brew tea
- 2 quarts water
- 3/4 Cup granulated sugar
- 2 plums sliced
- 20 mint leaves
Instructions
- Place sugar in a pitcher. Getting your tap water as hot as possible, add 2 Cups to the pitcher. Mix with the sugar until dissolved. Add the remaining water to the pitcher on the cold setting. Add in the bags and let steep for 5 minutes. Squeeze out any excess water from the bags and place in the fridge until cold.
- Slice the plums and wash the mint leaves. Add to the tea and let infuse for at least an hour before serving. Enjoy!
For the picnic, I added the mint and plums right to the mason jars. Per jar I added half of a plum, sliced and 5 mint leaves.
Then I added the tea on top and let it infuse overnight.
The infused tea paired so well with my other picnic components.
We had so much fun with our little picnic under shady trees near our condo.
The Lipton cold brew tea with the mint and plum was so refreshing. The mint makes it light and a nice fruity after taste from the plums. I think everything went great together, I felt like I did my Grandma proud!
So, what do you think? Have I inspired you to have your own southern style picnic lunch?? What’s your favorite way to drink and serve iced tea??
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'Til Next time!
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
That looks so delicious and very refreshing too. I love the way you presented it in mason jars. Thanks for the idea.
If you have a minute to spare I’d be thrilled if you could share your post at my weekly Say G’day Saturday party. It’s on now and this would be a fabulous addition.
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
This sounds soo yummy!! I’m gonna try this one!
Shelly
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
Looks amazing! Beautiful presentation. Can’t wait to try this combo ~ thanks for sharing on Nifty Thrify Sunday.
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
This is screaming my name right now – Pinned and Tweeted! Oh and I’m your newest follower on Pinterest (MomtoElise) and Twitter (@RufflesandRain). I found your little gem of a drink through Huckleberry Love’s link party today.
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
I’ve never tried mint and plum infused tea but this looks so delicious! And I never thought to use the mason jars for a picnic but they would be perfect! Looks like you guys had a beautiful day for a picnic! #client
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
Thank you for sharing your post this week at Brag About It Link Party on VMG206. I’m featuring you at Next Weeks Brag About It Link Party, Monday at midnight!
~ Megin of VMG206
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
Plums are the best! This sounds great! Thanks for sharing on Let’s Get Real (I’m co-hosting this week)!
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
I love flavored iced teas but have never tried making one with plums. Sounds awesome! And the mason jar idea is brilliant! Thanks for sharing on Weekend Pot Luck.
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
Hi Dana – This looks delicious! As a Southern gal, I LOVE my iced tea. Thanks so much for sharing with the Let’s Get Real party.
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
Pinned and sharing!!!
Hugs from Freedom Fridays!
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
Interesting combo I would never thought of. Hubby likes mint, I bet he would like it.
Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday linky party!
Jenny
http://www.inthekitchenwithjenny.com
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
This sounds wonderful. I love new drink ideas and I picked this as my host favorite for Foodie Friends Friday,
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
If you don’t mind my asking, or the lateness of this comment, how did you keep the fried chicken crispy? Can’t wait to try making this iced tea!!
http://thissillygirlskitchen.com
It was store bought fried chicken. I suggest eating it room temperature or cold for a picnic. Thanks for asking!