Cherry Almond Cream Cheese Spread

There’s something about the combination of ripe peaches and black tea that perfectly captures the essence of summer. This Southern Peach Tea is your passport to refreshing, fruity bliss. The tea blends rich peach juice with the classic flavor of iced tea, and with frozen peach wedges to top it off, it makes for the perfect chilled drink to quench your thirst on a hot day.

Ingredients

Gather your ingredients for a batch of delicious peach tea:

• 4 large ripe peaches (divided)
• 6 – 8 regular-size black tea bags
• 2 cups boiling water
• ½ – 1 cup granulated sugar (or to taste)
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 6 cups cold water
• Pinch of baking soda (optional)
• Ice

Directions

1. Prepare Frozen Peach Garnish: Halve two of the peaches, remove the pits, and slice them into wedges. Arrange the peach wedges on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze them until solid, at least 4 hours. These will serve as a flavorful garnish for your peach tea.
2. Brew the Tea: Steep the black tea bags in boiling water for 10 minutes. Cover the pot to keep the heat in. Once steeped, discard the tea bags and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Let the sweetened tea cool slightly.
3. Make the Peach Puree: Peel the remaining two peaches, remove their pits, and roughly chop them into pieces. Blend the peach pieces with lemon juice in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain the peach puree through a fine sieve into a bowl, gently pressing the pulp to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp or save it for another use.
4. Mix the Peach Tea: In a large pitcher, combine the strained peach juice, sweetened tea, cold water, and a pinch of baking soda (if using) for added smoothness. Stir well and refrigerate until fully chilled.
5. Serve: Pour the chilled peach tea into individual glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with frozen peach wedges for a burst of refreshing flavor.

Prep and Cooking Time

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Steep Time: 10 minutes
• Freezing Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes

Nutritional Information

Each serving is approximately 120 kcal, and the recipe yields six servings.

Tips for the Perfect Peach Tea

• Adjust the sugar level to your preference, starting with ½ cup and adding more for a sweeter taste.
• The frozen peach wedges make a great snack after they’ve soaked up the tea!
• A pinch of baking soda helps neutralize any bitterness from the tea, but it is optional.

Enjoy a tall glass of this Southern Peach Tea and savor the taste of summer with every sip!