1/4 cup loose peach tea leaves
1 qt boiling water
8 slices fresh ginger
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 qt peach juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup ginger brandy
thinly sliced lemon for garnish (optional)
combine the tea and boiling water in a teapot or other heatproof container until steeped, about 10 minutes.
strain the tea into the slow cooker and add the fresh ginger, brown sugar, peach juice, and lemon juice. cover and cook on LOW until hot, 1-2 hours.
when ready to serve, scoop the ginger slices out of the liquid and add the ginger brandy. turn the heat down to KEEP WARM setting if your slow cooker has that function; otherwise, keep it on LOW to serve. float lemon slices on the top, if desired.
makes about 2 qts
THIS FRAGRANT AND FLAVORFUL HOT DRINK WILL KEEP AT A GOOD SERVING TEMPERATURE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. TO SERVE IT “UNSPIKED”, SIMPLY OMIT THE GINGER BRANDY. IF YOU CAN’T FIND PEACH TEA, SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER COMPLEMENTARY TEA, SUCH AS AN HERBAL LEMON TEA OR EVEN REGULAR ORANGE PEKOE TEA. YOU COULD ALSO USE GINGER TEA TO INTENSIFY THE GINGER FLAVOR.