Recipe: Blackberry Iced Tea

BLACKBERRY ICED TEA

"This recipe for Blackberry Iced Tea adapted from Southern Living magazine uses baking soda to preserve the vibrant colors of the berries in the tea."

3 cups fresh or thawed frozen blackberries
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon chopped mint
a pinch baking soda
6 black tea bags
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 1/2 cups cold water
fresh mint sprigs and fresh blackberries on short wooden skewers (for garnish)

In a large pitcher, combine blackberries and sugar. Use a wooden spoon to crush the berries and mix them with the sugar. Add chopped mint and baking soda. Set aside.

Place tea bags in a large heat-proof quart measuring cup. Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water and let steep 3 minutes. Spoon out the tea bags and squeeze them into the tea; discard the tea bags. Pour the tea into the blackberry mixture. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

Pour the tea through a mesh strainer and discard solids. Return the tea to the pitcher. Add 2 1/2 cups cold water and stir well to dissolve sugar. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

TO SERVE:
Pour into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and fresh blackberries on short wooden skewers.

Makes 7 1/2 cups
Adapted from: Sunset magazine
Source: The Associated Press