Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cube the watermelon and juice or blend until you reach 2 1/4 cups of liquid. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve to catch pulp and seeds, pressing gently to release all the juice. Set the strained watermelon juice aside in the refrigerator to chill.
- Pour the chilled sweet tea and strained watermelon juice into a pitcher. Add the fresh lime juice and stir thoroughly to combine all flavors. Sample the mixture and tweak as needed—add more lime for brightness or additional sweet tea to tone down the sweetness. Because watermelon is naturally sweet, add lime gradually and taste between additions.
- Load serving glasses or jars with ice cubes and pour the watermelon tea mixture over the top. Tear 1 to 2 mint leaves per glass by hand and let them float on the surface. The mint will release its aroma as you drink, adding a fresh herbal layer. Serve right away while cold.
Notes
Store the mixed tea (without ice or mint) in a sealed pitcher in the fridge for up to 2 days. Give it a stir before pouring as the watermelon juice may settle. Add ice and torn mint leaves just before serving to keep everything fresh and aromatic. If your watermelon is particularly sweet, you may need extra lime juice to balance the flavor. Tear mint leaves gently rather than cutting them to prevent browning. For a less sweet version, substitute unsweetened iced tea or dilute the sweet tea with plain cold water.