ZEST TEA RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F
• Toss lemon zest, orange zest, ginger and fennel(if using licorice or star anise do not use here) together on a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Scatter mint on a second large parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake, rotating baking sheets and stirring occasionally, until ginger mixture and mint are both dried out, 10 to 15 minutes for the mint and about 45 minutes for the ginger mixture; set both aside to let cool completely.
• Crumble mint into a medium bowl then add ginger mixture and cranberries or apricots and toss. For each serving of tea, steep 2 tablespoons of the mixture(if using licorice or star anise, add here) together with 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes. Strain and serve.

Steps:

• Hot-Brewed:
• Bring 8 cups water to a simmer; remove from the heat and add 3 tablespoons loose tea or 6 tea bags. Let steep about 4 minutes, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags. Let cool, then transfer to a pitcher, cover and refrigerate.
• Cold-Brewed:
• Combine 8 cups cold water and 6 tablespoons loose tea or 10 tea bags in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 36 hours, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags.
• Sweet Teas:
• Combine 3/4 cup each sugar and water in a saucepan and add 1 infuser, if desired. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the infused syrup through a fine-mesh sieve (you'll get about 1 cup).
• Orange Add 6 strips zest
• Blackberries 1 cup
• Cinnamon 2 sticks
• Lavender 3 tablespoons dried
• Vanilla 1 halved bean
• Mint 3 sprigs
• Ginger 1 cup sliced
• Lemon 8 strips zest
• Nectarine 1 cup chopped
• Cucumber 2 cups chopped