For the most part, the only thing our family drinks is the delicious Lake Michigan water piped into our kitchen sink.  But, sometimes it’s fun to treat ourselves to something a little fancier.  With summer in the air, I no longer crave the occasional cup of homemade chai tea; it’s too spicy and warming for the hot months.  When the mood for something other than water strikes, I like preparing a big batch of homemade iced tea.

The kids think they are the luckiest kids in Chicago when I serve them homemade iced tea, but I love how economical homemade is.  It is pennies per glass, and there’s no lasting environmental impact from a leftover plastic bottle. So refreshing!

Iced Green Tea with Fresh Ginger

12 cups water

6 green tea bags (I use decaf because I completely avoid caffeine)

2-3 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into rounds

several spoonfuls of raw honey

Bring water and ginger to a boil.  Remove from heat and drop in tea bags.  Let steep for 3 minutes.  Remove tea bags and stir in honey.  Pour into glass storage jars, and toss the ginger rounds in, too.

Cool and serve over ice.