Ginger-Tea Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups water
• 3 black tea bags, preferably English breakfast tea
• 1-1/3 cups Ginger Simple Syrup, recipe follows
• 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice, from 3 to 4 lemons
• 1 cup sparkling water or club soda, chilled
• 2 cups ice
• Lemon slices, for garnish, optional

Directions

Method written by CompKitchen from the ingredient list. Not the original author's method, not kitchen-tested.

1. Combine the granulated sugar, 1 cup water and chopped ginger in a saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture just simmers, about 5 minutes.

2. Remove the syrup from the heat, cover and let the ginger steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the ginger and let the syrup cool.

3. Bring the 2 cups water to a boil in a small pot. Remove from heat, add the tea bags and steep 5 minutes. Remove the bags without squeezing them and let the tea cool.

4. Stir the cooled tea, the ginger simple syrup and the lemon juice together in a pitcher. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.

5. Just before serving, stir in the chilled sparkling water or club soda.

6. Fill glasses with the 2 cups ice, pour the lemonade over it and garnish with lemon slices if using.