Name: Iced peach and green tea, a.k.a. 'The Lawnmower'
Ingredients: 500g peaches (about 4 or 5), roughly chopped into small pieces, stones reserved; 125g light brown sugar; 5g thyme sprigs; 4 tbsp white wine vinegar; 3 green tea bags; sparkling wine of your choice (or soda water) and lots of ice; fine sea salt

Iced peach and green tea, a.k.a. 'The Lawnmower'

New

Summer

Makes 6 cocktails

Nothing says peak summer more to me (or rather Jake, from the test kitchen) than reaching for an ice cold peach ice tea. A quench at its peak after a day spent gardening. Hence the name, ‘The lawnmower’. The base of this recipe is a peach shrub, a vinegar spiked cordial. This is a great technique for preserving fruits or berries when they are at their most abundant, so experiment to your heart's desire. Makes about 400ml of peach shrub, along with the strong green tea to make the drink

Ingredients

500g	peaches (about 4 or 5), roughly chopped into small pieces, stones reserved
125g	light brown sugar
5g	thyme sprigs
4 tbsp	white wine vinegar
3	green tea bags
	sparkling wine of your choice (or soda water) and lots of ice
	fine sea salt

Method

Add the peaches and their stones, the sugar, thyme and a pinch of salt to a medium saucepan and mix together. Leave to sit for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has all dissolved and a syrup has formed. Add the vinegar and 4 tablespoons of water to the pan, place on a medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then, reduce to simmer and cook for 12 minutes, until the liquid has turned slightly syrupy. Remove from heat and leave to cool to room temp. Discard the peach stones and thyme sprig and place everything in a blender. Blitz until smooth.
Meanwhile, pour 500ml of boiling water over the tea bags in a jug, stir and leave to steep until cool, about 30 minutes. Squeeze the bag and discard. The tea and cordial will keep in the fridge for a week, ready to mix when you want.
To make the lawnmower, add equal parts of the peach shrub, tea and your chosen bubbles in a jug and mix well. Serve poured over an ice-filled glasses.