Summer is officially here, which means it's time for picnics, hikes, and backyard barbecues. It also welcomes the season for all your summer foodie favorites: glistening pitchers of iced tea, piles of buttery corn on the cob, mountains of burgers, and of course, everyone's favorite summer slice: sweet, juicy, crisp watermelon.

Here at Adagio, we like to keep all your favorite flavors in mind when blending our teas, and while we haven't quite yet mastered hamburger tea, our Watermelon Cooler definitely fits the bill. Coming in both hot and iced varieties, it can be enjoyed year-round by itself or, in this new recipe, as part of a sweet, refreshing punch.

There are three main elements to most punches: something sweet, something fizzy, and something citrusy. Common ingredients include fruit juices or concentrates, lemon-lime sodas, fresh fruit, or sherbets.

Of course, here at Adagio, we don't just want to provide the usual experience, which is why this punch--while still exceptionally easy to make--offers something a little more complex. In this recipe, ginger, honey, blueberry, and mint swirl together in a fusion of flavors, our Watermelon Cooler providing that last sweet bow you need to tie it all together. You can find the full recipe below.

To start, you'll need to prepare your tea, which should be done the day before. Since cold can dampen some flavors, we suggest brewing your tea at three to four times the usual strength, which is done not by steeping for longer (which can ruin the flavor) but by using more tea, about three and a half teaspoons in this case.

Once your tea is brewed (5-10 minutes at 212F/100F), add honey to taste, stirring until the honey is fully dissolved. Again, you'll want to add slightly more honey than usual as the cold will dampen the flavor. Put the tea in the fridge to cool overnight.

Once your tea is cool, you're ready to assemble your punch. You'll need ginger ale (feel free to swap out lemon-lime soda), blueberries, mint, ice, and salt.

For the ratios, we found that half-and-half between the ginger ale and tea provided the most balanced flavor. Next, add a pinch of salt, which will open up and enhance the sweetness in the soda and tea. For this step, it's best to start small so that your punch doesn't get too salty. Stir until the salt is well-dissolved to avoid a salty surprise at the bottom of your glass as well!

Once the punch itself is done, it's time for garnish. For the blueberries, you can muddle them to release their flavors into the tea or leave them whole for pops of flavor. Muddling your mint will increase its presence in your tea as well, or leave it whole for a subtler touch. Your ice can go in at any time, of course, though if you're planning on crushing your blueberries or mint, we recommend adding it after.

With that, you're finished. Not too sweet, with layers of flavors to explore, this Watermelon Cooler punch is sure to be a hit at your next Summer party. Race you to the pool!

Recipe Info

This non-alcoholic punch is perfect for a hot summer day. Not too sweet, it offers the complex flavors of blueberry, mint, honey, and ginger with just a pinch of watermelon.

Makes: 2 glasses
Time to Make: 5-10 minutes (tea should be made and cooled the night before)

Ingredients

One 12 oz. can ginger ale or lemon-lime soda
12 oz. Watermelon Cooler, brewed at 3x strength
Fruit Tisanes Raw Honey
Blueberries
Fresh mint
Ice
Pinch of Salt

Instructions

Brew Watermelon Cooler, using 3x the amount of tea. Add honey to taste (flavors will become more subtle when cold, so you may want to add a little more than usual). Mix until honey is dissolved.

Chill tea overnight.

Mix equal portions of chilled tea and soda.

Add a pinch of salt, mixing until fully dissolved.

Add blueberries and mint leaves to garnish.

Optionally, muddle the blueberries and mint, or leave whole for pops of flavor.

Pour over ice. Cheers!

Tea Chef

Check out this month's TeaChef recipe competition! Head over there to submit your own creations to potentially win a $50 gift card to Adagio!