Moscow Mule Sweet Iced Tea

Last summer, when we were living with Ian’s aunt and uncle, we had the pleasure of drinking several Moscow Mules. Not that we hadn’t had them before, but there is just something about having them in the comfort of home rather than at a restaurant that makes them that much tastier. Then in the fall, when we moved in with my aunt and uncle (I know, we are drifters.. but we get possession of our very own home in a month!), I brewed myself a lemon and ginger tea and instantly thought, “This tastes exactly like a Moscow Mule.” Of course, I wondered what I could possibly do with this tea and I thought, why not make a Moscow Mule Sweet Iced Tea!

We once hosted a southern-style brunch in our apartment: fried chicken and waffles with a boozy sweet tea. (I might mention that frying chicken in a wok for 15 people in a two bedroom apartment is all fun and games til your apartment smells like oil for a week.) But enough about the food… the point of me bringing up the brunch is that I can’t for the life of me remember where the recipe is for the sweet tea that we made (Orange vodka and Earl Grey tea is all I recall.. and the hangover), so I did some experimentation for this one and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

You will need to make it ahead of time, since you will be boiling 14 cups of water and you’ll need it to cool to serve, just a little FYI. Could you steep the tea in a smaller amount of boiling water and then just add cold water? Probably. But that’s not how I did this cause I like to make things difficult, apparently.

Anyway, one thing to point out, is the amount of sugar. The first time I tried this out, I used a full cup. That’s a bit much. So I am leaving you with directions to use 3/4 cup but please feel free to use more or less – I’m leaving that up to you.

Another thing to point out, is that you don’t have to put booze in this. It tastes quite nice on it’s own! So if you’ve got some non-booze drinkers with you, leave it as is and then pour your own drinks accordingly. I used Bacardi Limon (cue Kanye West “The Glory”) for mine because that was really the only option at the liquor store besides a lemon gin that I didn’t trust (it came in a plastic bottle). I did like the flavour of the rum, but if you prefer vodka (my original plan) or gin, giv’er!

If you are going to make this a day ahead, I would wait to add the lime, mint and booze until about half an hour before serving. I also tried to make fancy clear ice cubes by boiling water before freezing because it would look nice in the photos… you can see that that didn’t work out so well hahaha

Now, before I send you off to get drunk.. the first time I had Lemon Ginger tea, it was from Twinnings. When I bought the box for this recipe, I used STASH. I think the Twinnings tea was a little more ginger-y, so if you really like that flavour, that’s the one I recommend to you. But since neither of these companies are paying me you can buy whatever kind of lemon ginger tea your heart desires.

Cheers!