GRILLED Iced SWEET Tea (NO SUGAR!!!) - 52 Backyard Drinks

This does indeed fall under the category of "Secret Extras".  When you grill lemons, the juices heat.  When the juices heat, the natural sugars in the fruit are released and intensified.  So much so that when carefully added to the tea, the tea becomes as sweet as Southern Sweet tea WITHOUT any added sugar.  Just a couple of tricks and tips to know...

First, scrub the lemons under hot water with a scouring brush.  Most store bought fruits with rinds have been treated with a thin wax coating.  This helps preserve the fruit, keep the bright color and protects from bruising.  It's also a very good idea to scrub your lemons before zesting them for the same reason, but I digress...

Second, use a HOT grill.  Direct heat (fruit directly over the hot coals).  Be sure the grates are also HOT before grilling them.

Third, use tongs to pick up the lemons from the grill, but lightly.  DO not squeeze when over the coals.  But just before dropping them into the pitcher of tea, give them a little squeeze.  This will release the juices and open the cooked flesh up to allow the tea and juices to swirl together.

And finally, don't be afraid of the grill marks and slight charring that happens.  Your tea will not have a burnt taste.

And viola... Southern SWEET Tea with no sugar added... really, try it!

OK... Here's what I did...

GRILLED 

Iced SWEET Tea 

(NO SUGAR!!!)

Ingredients

• 1 Gallon Freshly Brewed Tea, Chilled in the fridge for an hour or two
• A Big Bunch of Ice Cubes (Extra Cold)
• 3 Medium Lemons, sliced in half
• A Stirring Stick
• Your Loyal and Trusty Servant, A Good HOT Grill

Cooking Directions

1. Brew the tea
2. Chill the tea
3. Add ice to the tea
4. Over direct heat on a HOT Grill, place the lemon halves open side down.
5. Grill for about 5 minutes, until the lemons get very soft and grill marks start to appear.
6. Carefully lift from the grill (if you squeeze them with tongs, the sweet juices will pour out) and drop into the tea, with a little squeeze when over the tea to release the juices.
7. Stir with stirring stick
8. Serve refreshingly COLD over ice and ENJOY!

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So,  I am pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Grilling Time Secret Extras" or "52 Ways to Cook BBQ and Grilling Recipes"!!!

Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop... Over 100 in one grilling season (I love to grill!). But not just leat... Drinks, Condiments (LOTS of different BBQ sauces), Drinks, Desserts... even specialty items like GRILLED Pizza, and fun shaped Watermelons.  Easy and these ideas will make you the MASTER of your Backyard Domain!

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