Mango Iced tea

Have you ever had mango iced tea? Unlike the usual iced tea it has the flavours of mango in it. Now if you are a die hard fan of mangoes you would know what I mean and would be almost at the verge of trying it as soon as you can. But let me warn you, they are addictive. So control yourself. 

You could very well make it with preserved mango pulp. But there is something different and fresh feeling when you make it right from the scratch with those irresistible juicy mangoes that are available during this summer season. So why wait for it to get canned or preserved to try it. Go for making it this summer season. 

Ingredients

1. 1 medium sized ripe mango, peeled and cut into cubes
2. 2 glasses of water
3. 1/2 tbsp of tea leaves
4. 3 tbsp of sugar or as per taste
5. 5-6 drops of lemon juice
6. Ice cubes as required

Method

• In a blender, puree the mango. Transfer it into a bowl and chill it in the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan, pour in the water and add sugar. Heat it.
• Once its about to boil, drop in the tea leaves and let it boil.
• Remove it from heat and add the lemon juice to it.
• Drain out the tea on to a pitcher and let it cool.
• Once cool, adjust the sweetness accordingly and pop it into the fridge and let it chill. 
• Once chilled, add 4 tbsp of mango puree and the chilled tea in a blender and blend it until everything gets mixed or blend well. Adjust sugar if needed.
• Pour it into serving glass and serve it with ice cubes.

Tips

1. Do not drop the tea leaves as soon as you place the pan on heat. It makes the tea very strong. We like the iced tea to be mild and so I do not tend to boil it for long either.
2. I used just few drops of lemon to get a flavor. Too much of lemon juice would make it taste bitter.
3. You could also crush the mint leaves with your hand and drop it in the pitcher before you chill it. You could also use mint leaves for garnishing.