Muddled Iced Peach Cordial

– courtesy Foodland Ontario; Ontario.ca/foodland

Muddled Iced Peach Cordial

Cubes of frozen tea and fruit keep this refreshing peach-infused iced tea flavourful and deliciously cold.
Serves 6 to 8.

4 bags Earl Grey tea (or your favourite kind)
3 to 4 large sprigs fresh Ontario lemon verbena (or lemon thyme, mint or lemon balm)
½ cup Ontario honey
1 cup Ontario blueberries (or chopped Ontario strawberries, or a combination of both)
4 Ontario peaches

FOR GARNISH:
Fresh Ontario herbs

In large pot, bring 8 cups (2 L) water to a boil; add teabags. Remove from heat, add lemon verbena; steep for 20 minutes. Discard tea bags and lemon verbena; stir in honey.

Place berries evenly into 2 ice cube trays. Top with enough tea to cover and place in freezer until frozen. Chill remaining tea mixture.

Pit and thinly slice 3 peaches; add to large pitcher. Crush gently with muddler or with handle of wooden spoon; stir in reserved chilled tea. Pit and thinly slice remaining peach; set aside. Pour cordial and add a few peach slices into individual glasses over frozen fruit cubes; garnish with fresh herb of choice.