Spanish Iced Chamomile and Citrus Tea

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare your ingredients: wash the Valencia orange thoroughly under cold water and slice it into 5 mm thin half-moons. Wash the fresh mint leaves. Have a 1.5-liter heatproof glass pitcher and a fine mesh strainer ready on the counter.

2. 2

   Pour the 1000 ml of water into a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring the water to a gentle boil until steady bubbles appear, then immediately take the saucepan off the heat source.

3. 3

   Add the 8 g of dried chamomile flowers and 50 g of granulated sugar into the hot water. Stir well with a spoon until the sugar dissolves completely. Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the tea steep undisturbed for 7 minutes.

4. 4

   Place the fine mesh strainer over the glass pitcher and pour the brewed tea through it to catch all chamomile flowers. Press the spent flowers gently with the back of a spoon to extract maximum flavor, then discard them.

5. 5

   Stir the 40 ml of fresh lemon juice into the pitcher. Add the sliced Valencia orange half-moons and the 15 g of fresh mint leaves. Stir gently, then place the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to cool completely.

6. 6

   Divide the 200 g of ice cubes evenly among 4 tall serving glasses. Pour the chilled herbal tea over the ice, ensuring orange slices and mint leaves are distributed into each glass. Serve immediately beside chilled ajo blanco.