Amish Meadow Tea Recipe – Simple, Fresh, and Full of Flavor
Meadow Tea is a refreshing, naturally sweet mint drink popular in Amish and Mennonite communities. Brewed with fresh mint, sweetened with sugar, and served chilled, it’s the perfect way to use up garden mint and cool down on a hot day.
- Prep Time: 5 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups (concentrate)
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: Amish
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
4 cups (packed) fresh mint (spearmint or peppermint)
2 quarts (8 cups) water
2 cups sugar
Instructions
- Soak and rinse the mint in cold water. Remove the leaves from stems or leave them intact based on preference.
- Place the mint into a cheesecloth, gather it together, and tie into a bundle.
- In a large pot, bring the water to a boil and add sugar. Lightly boil for 5 minutes.
- Add the mint bundle to the pot, pressing down to submerge it fully. Boil for 1 more minute.
- Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 4–5 hours.
- Strain the mint concentrate and pour into containers to freeze or refrigerate.
- To serve, mix 1 part concentrate with 3–4 parts cold water. Serve over ice with or without lemon slices.
Notes
- Spearmint is preferred for the best flavor, but any mint will work.
- Mint grows invasively—best to grow it in containers.
- Concentrate can be made ahead and frozen for later use.
- Adjust sugar level to taste preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (diluted)
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
