22 June 2025. We look forward to al fresco dining all year, so when summer comes we're all about taking the party out-of-doors. We find linen tablecloths and napkins to be delightfully unfussy for meals outside, and yet they dress your average picnic table up quite nicely.
Whether you're serving a homemade feast or take-out pizza, an outdoor summer meal needs a refreshing beverage, so we're sharing this delicious take on iced tea. Let us know how you like it!
Orange Blossom Iced Tea
From Honey and Co.: The Cookbook
Yield: 1/2 gallon
Ingredients
6 cups water
2 Earl Gray tea bags
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. honey
2-3 tsp. orange blossom water
1 orange, sliced
4 sprigs fresh mint
Additional mint and orange slices for garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring 6 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and steep for 15 minutes. This seemed too long, but we trusted the recipe, and it turned out beautifully.
While the tea steeps, make a simple syrup: Combine sugar, 1 cup water, and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for a couple of minutes, until sugar and honey are fully dissolved. You will now have about 1-1/2 cups of simple syrup, and you'll need only 1 to 1-1/4 cups of it for this recipe.
When the tea is done steeping, discard the tea bags. Pour the tea into a heat-resistant jug or jar, such as a 1/2-gallon mason jar. Add 1 to 1-1/4 cups simple syrup (see notes), orange blossom water, orange slices, and mint sprigs. Cover and refrigerate until fully chilled.
Serve over ice, with additional mint and orange slices if desired.