This weekend marks a very special and patriotic holiday for all of us in the United States. Memorial Day gives us the opportunity to thank all those who have served our country. It also gives us a unique opportunity to reflect on our country’s history and a few of the moments that make us great.
Williamsburg, Virginia is one of the most historic and patriotic places in the country, dating back to the discovery of the new world at Jamestown. This history also includes the Revolutionary War, which our Colonial Williamsburg settlement is based on.
While many have heard of the Boston Tea Party, there was also a similar act of patriotism in Williamsburg’s York River. In November of 1774, a shipment of tea that had been boycotted by the Virginia Revolutionary Committee, arrived in Yorktown. A group of citizens rallied and dumped the shipment into the harbor in protest. This marked the first public demonstration of political conviction of independence in Williamsburg.
Luckily, none of us today have to boycott tea anymore. In fact, southern sweet peach tea is a local favorite, despite its controversial beginnings. Here is one of our absolute favorite recipes for southern-style peach tea to bring to your Memorial Day barbecues this weekend. Fast, easy, and oh so refreshing!
Southern-Style Peach Iced Tea
Tea:
- 3 Lipton Iced Tea bags
- 6 cups of water
Peach Syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 large peaches, diced with skin
- 1 Vanilla bean, halved
- Lemon (optional)
- Fresh Mint Leaves (optional)
First brew your tea. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add tea bags and turn off the heat. Cover pot and allow to steep for 6 minutes. Uncover and allow to cool on counter.
While tea cools, make peach syrup. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add sugar, peaches, and vanilla bean. Stir until all sugar is dissolved. (5-10 minutes) Turn off the heat, cover, and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes.
Strain peach syrup to remove large fruit pieces. Add syrup to brewed tea and stir to combine. Place peach tea into the fridge and allow to chill before serving.
Serve over ice with mint leaves and lemon, if you desire.
On behalf of all the staff here at Colonial Gardens, we would like to take a moment to say a big THANK YOU to all of our service men and women, both past and present, for protecting our country. You are the reason we have the freedoms we enjoy and we do not take that for granted!