Name: Agave-Sweetened Orange-Orange Pekoe Tea
Yield: 12 to 14 servings
Ingredients: 12 cups cold water; 2 2-inch cinnamon sticks; 12 tea bags orange-flavored black tea; 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice; 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 1/2 cups agave nectar; Ice cubes; Thin orange wedges, for garnish

Ma'Dear, my maternal grandmother, would sun-brew gallon jars full of Sweet Goodness on sweltering hot summer days. Recollections of those containers full of cinnamon-colored tea sitting on her back porch bring back sweet memories of simpler days. This version will satisfy the snootiest of Sweet Tea connoisseurs (read: my mom) and won't give drinkers an insulin spike since it is sweetened with agave nectar.

Soundtrack: "Mississippi Goddamn" by Nina Simone from Protest Anthology

Ingredients

12 to 14 servings

12 cups cold water

2 2-inch cinnamon sticks

12 tea bags orange-flavored black tea

2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 cups agave nectar

Ice cubes

Thin orange wedges, for garnish

Preparation

Step 1
• In a stockpot, combine the water and cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately add the tea bags, orange juice, lemon juice, and agave nectar. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
Step 2
• Remove the lid, allow the tea to cool, and remove the tea bags with a slotted spoon.
Step 3
• To serve, ladle into pint-size canning jars filled with ice and garnish with orange wedges.

From Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine by Bryant Terry. © 2009 by Bryant Terry. Published by Da Capo Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Reprinted by permission.

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Reviews (5)

Very, very good! Easy to make too. I only had pink lemonaide, not fresh, but was good anyway. I garnished with slices of tangarine, liked the falvor...next time... 1/2 o.j. and 1/2 tangarine juice...??
- Anonymous
- Central Coast, Ca.
- 10/29/2011
I served this tea for a springtime birthday luncheon and it got rave reviews all around. I used the prescribed amount of Agave sweetner, and it was just perfect. You will love this.
- jdedelman
- Chicago, IL
- 5/16/2010
Lovely for a picnic. I recommend cutting the Agave nectar by half for those without a sweet tooth.
- lauraneuman
- Loomis, CA
- 6/29/2009
This is FANTASTIC - was looking for something different this summer to have ready in my fridge on a hot day. A dash of club soda on top might not be bad either. For the reader re: agave nectar - sub it any time you would use honey in a recipe. It's a cleaner, lighter taste, and it also doesn't drive spike in your sugar level like honey does. You will love it!
- Anonymous
- Providence, RI
- 6/13/2009
Now that summer is here I cannot wait to try this. Love all ingredients! Looking for a good use for my agave nectar,, Any advice from those who have used it before?
- lovio123
- Naugatuck, CT
- 6/10/2009

TagsCold Drink Beverages Iced Tea Tea Black Tea Southern American Soul Food Orange Citrus Fruit Cinnamon Herbs & Spices Vegan Vegetarian Nonalcoholic Easy Juneteenth Cookbooks

Agave-Sweetened Orange-Orange Pekoe Tea

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Reviews (5)

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