Tea Bar

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 25 min
  • Prep: 1 hr
  • Cook: 25 min
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Ingredients

Mint, and Earl Grey teas

Amaretto liqueur

Simple syrup, recipe follows

Candied lemon peel, recipe follows

Whipped cream, recipe follows

On a large serving tray, arrange the teapots alongside the bottle of liqueur, a small pitcher of simple syrup, the bowl of whipped cream, and a plate of the candied lemon peel.

Invite guests to sample different teas and flavor them as they desire.

Mint Tea:

3 cups water

1 cup fresh mint, bruised with the back of a spoon

Bring water to a boil. Turn off heat. Add bruised mint leaves and allow to steep.

Yield: 3 to 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Simple Syrup:

1/2 cup water

1 cup sugar

Candied Lemon Peel:

2 lemons

1 cup simple syrup, recipe above

Whipped Cream:

1 cup heavy cream, chilled

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a saucepan combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  2. Yield: 1 cup
  3. Prep Time: 5 minutes
  4. Cook Time: 5 minutes

Candied Lemon Peel:

  1. Using a vegetable peeler cut the yellow part of the lemon from the stem end down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch strips. Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the peels and cook for 1 minute. Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water. Repeat cooking the peels, 2 more times, in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water.
  2. In the same pan combine the peels with 1 cup of simple syrup. Simmer over medium-low heat until the peels are soft, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour.
  3. Yield: 12 to 16 strips
  4. Prep Time: 25 minutes
  5. Cook Time: 40 minutes

Whipped Cream:

  1. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and the vanilla and beat to combine. Transfer the whipped cream to a serving bowl. (The whipped cream can be made up to 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
  2. Yield: 2 1/2 cups
  3. Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook’s Note

For the afternoon tea, make a double batch of simple syrup. Reserve half for the tea bar and use the other half to make the candied lemon peel.

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