If you’re looking for the best summertime tea to keep you cool and refreshed during those hot days and nights, then meadow tea might be your new favorite drink. The funny story is that while the common name for this drink is meadow tea, it’s not technically a tea.
So, if it’s not technically tea? Where does meadow tea come from? What’s it taste like, and how do you make it? We’re here to answer all your burning questions about meadow tea.
Where Does Meadow Tea Come From?
So if meadow tea isn’t tea, where did this drink come from? Amish and Mennonite communities have long been drinking what’s now known as meadow tea since the early 1700s. Since they could grow herbs at home, they would experiment with them to make different drinks.
Meadow tea gets its name because the main ingredient, mint, is a type of herb that naturally grows in the meadows and gardens of Pennsylvania near these communities. You can make Meadow tea with peppermint or spearmint, whichever is on hand.
You can drink meadow tea anywhere you want, but if you’re traveling through Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the summer, you’ll see meadow tea everywhere you turn.
What Does It Taste Like?
How meadow tea tastes depend very much on how it’s made or the brand you purchase. Since it’s made primarily with spearmint or peppermint, be prepared to have that cooling sensation you get when you sip on other types of peppermint tea.
The main thing to remember about the taste of meadow tea is that it’s supposed to be served chilled or over ice so that the cooling sensation will be refreshing and stronger than warm peppermint tea.
How To Make Meadow Tea Taste Better
Even if you steep the peppermint or spearmint leaves for hours, attempting to sweeten them up, they will only get so sweet. Meadow tea isn’t particularly bitter without adding anything, but if you want to improve the flavor of your meadow tea, here are the most popular and tasty ways.
Adding Sweetener
Arguably the best way to improve the flavor of your meadow tea is to add your favorite sweetener to it. Most people opt for white sugar because it works well with teas, but you can also use Splenda and other artificial sweeteners if you prefer to keep the calories low.
Another favorite way to sweeten meadow tea is to use local honey. This helps with seasonal and local allergies, but you’ll need to be careful when adding this so you don’t curdle the honey and it doesn’t clump together.
Adding Lemon
If you want that delicious citrusy flavor that reminds most people of summer, when this tea is usually served, you can’t go wrong with adding a little lemon juice or sliced lemons to the pitcher. You don’t need much, or you can add a lot depending on your preference. Feel free to add lemon and your favorite sweetener if you’re feeling adventurous.
How To Brew Meadow Tea
Some companies offer what they call meadow tea, but if you want authentic meadow tea, you should make it yourself at home. The good news is that it’s super easy to do, and you only need a few ingredients. Here’s how to make the best meadow tea.
1. Gather Your Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make meadow tea:
- A package of mint leaves (whichever ones you want or a combination)
- 8 cups of water
- ½ cup of sugar or your sweetener of choice
- Lemon juice (one tablespoon or as much as you want)
- Lemon slices to garnish the tea (optional)
2. Wash Your Mint Leaves
Wash all your herb leaves to remove dirt and other impurities.
3. Boil Your Water
Fill a large pot with eight cups of water and bring that to a boil over high heat.
4. Add Your Mint
Once the water is boiling, you’ll add all of your mint leaves to the pot. Place a tightly fitting lid on the pot and remove the pot from your stove.
5. Let the Leaves Steep
Let the mixture steep for two and a half hours, but as long as the color is a minty green, you can proceed to the next step.
6. Strain
You’ll strain the tea from the leaves and then discard the leaves before transferring your meadow tea to a pitcher.
7. Add Sweetener and Lemon Juice
Add your sweetener and lemon juice to the tea and mix. Now, you can let it cool before serving or pour it over ice to enjoy it right away!
Caffeine Content in Meadow Tea
Something we love about meadow tea is the caffeine content or lack thereof. That’s right! You can drink meadow tea any time of the day without worrying about getting that nasty caffeine crash or being up all night.
How Many Carbs Does It Contain?
How many carbs are in your meadow tea will vary greatly depending on the brand you buy, if you make it on your own, and what you add to it to improve the flavor? Most meadow tea only has around 14 grams of carbs, but this can vary.
How Many Calories Does It Contain?
Like the carb content in meadow tea, how many calories will depend on how you make it and what you add to it? When you sweeten the beverage with real sugar, most servings of meadow tea will contain about 80 calories. It can be more or less, depending on the sweeteners you choose.
How Long Does Meadow Tea Last?
As long as you store the tea properly in a tight pitcher in the fridge, meadow tea can last up to five days. But, with how delicious it is, we highly doubt you’ll be able to make it last that long.
Final Thoughts
Meadow tea is a delicious beverage from the Amish community that’s not tea! This blend of mint and lemon is one of the most refreshing beverages for the summer and is sure to put a smile on your face.
It’s easy to make, store in the fridge, and the lack of caffeine makes it the perfect anytime drink. Next time you want something sweet that will cool you down, why not try meadow tea?
