Blackberry Tea

Chef John Fleer of the legendary Blackberry Farm Resort in Tennessee served this tea at a cooking class at Viking’s Cooking School. It is a beautiful, summertime drink that looks fabulous in a pretty pitcher.

3 cups frozen blackberries
1½ cups sugar
¹⁄8 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups boiling water
2 family-size tea bags
2½ cups cold water
Fresh mint sprigs

In a bowl, combine berries and sugar, well, with a wooden spoon. Pour boiling water over tea bags, and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in baking soda. Pour tea over blackberry sugar mixture, and mix well. Pour blackberry tea through a fine sieve. Discard solids. Add cold water, and stir briskly until all sugar is dissolved. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Yield: 4 servings.