BLACKBERRY SWEET TEA

Note: This tea is on this blog because it is easy and requires very little of your time. It does need to stand at room temperature for an hour and later be refrigerated for an hour for maximum effect.

3 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) blackberries
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
pinch of baking soda
4 cups boiling water
2 family size tea bags
2 1/2 cups cold water
fresh blackberries for garnish, optional

Combine the blackberries and sugar in a large container and crush with a wooden spoon; stir in the mint and baking soda.

Pour the boiling water over the tea bags; cover and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags.

Pour the tea over the blackberry mixture; let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Pour tea through a wire-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, discarding the solids. Add the cold water, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Garnish with the fresh berries, if desired.

Note: This is a recipe I got from Southern Living 5 or 6 years ago. As a diabetic, I use an equal amount of Splenda instead of the sugar.