Skip to main content
Epicurious
Bon Appétit

Cold Brew Plum Iced Tea

By Rick Martinez

5.0

(2)

Image may contain Drink Cocktail Alcohol Beverage Human Person and Mojito
Photo by Christopher Testani

Slightly bruised or wrinkled stone fruit is ideal for making the infused syrup; peaches and nectarines work too.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 8

Ingredients

8 black tea bags
3 large sprigs lemon verbena or mint, plus more for serving
1 cup sugar
4 large red plums, cut into thin wedges
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine tea bags, 3 lemon verbena sprigs, and 8 cups cold water in a large pitcher. Cover and chill at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add plums and reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep 30 minutes. Strain plum syrup into a small bowl; stir in lemon juice. Cover and chill until cold, at least 30 minutes.

    Step 3

    Remove tea bags and lemon verbena sprigs from tea and stir in 3/4 cup plum syrup and 4 cups ice. Serve in ice-filled glasses garnished with more lemon verbena.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 4

    Plum syrup can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.

TagsCold DrinkBeveragesPitcher DrinkIced TeaTeaBlack TeaLemon VerbenaHerbs & SpicesMintPlumStone FruitFruitGluten FreeDairy FreeNut FreeNonalcoholicSimmerLabor DayJuneteenthSummerBon Appétit

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Kimchi Bloody Mary
The kimchi brine is the secret hero here; just a splash of it brightens the cocktail while deepening it with a little funky je ne sais quoi.
Fufu
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
Hugo Spritz
With elderflower liqueur, mint, and prosecco, the effervescent Hugo spritz cocktail is a hit year round, but particularly on warm nights.
Sea Breeze
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Luscious Banana Pudding
Layer homemade custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers under clouds of whipped cream for this iconic dessert.
Grape Dumplings
Native American people made these with cornmeal dumplings, simmering them with wild grapes, which were harvested at their peak sweetness.
Jammy Grape Galette
We don’t bake with grapes as often as we should. But even the most average supermarket varieties come alive when roasted with a bit of sugar and seasoning.
Île Flottante
Originally called omelette à la neige (snow omelet) in reference to the fluffy snow-like appearance of the meringue, île flottante (floating island) has a lengthy history that dates back to the 17th century.