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Southern Sweet Tea Peach Popsicles (No Bitter Aftertaste)

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Layered sweet tea peach popsicles with bold, never-bitter black tea and creamy macerated peaches in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups water
  • 4 black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons loose black tea)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 ripe peaches, peeled and chopped
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, toss the chopped peaches with 3 tablespoons sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Let sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, stirring once, until juicy.
  2. Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil, remove from heat, and steep the tea bags for exactly 5 minutes (longer turns the pops bitter). Remove the tea bags.
  3. While the tea is hot, stir in 1/3 cup sugar, the honey, baking soda, and a pinch of salt until fully dissolved. Let the tea cool completely to room temperature, then chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.
  4. Pulse the macerated peaches in a blender or food processor briefly, just 4-5 pulses, leaving some visible pulp and small chunks rather than a smooth puree.
  5. Spoon a layer of the peach mixture into each popsicle mold, about 1/3 full, and freeze for 30-40 minutes until just firm enough to hold a stick upright.
  6. Insert popsicle sticks, then top with a layer of the cooled sweet tea, leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace for expansion. Freeze for another 30 minutes.
  7. Add a final peach layer, then finish filling with the remaining sweet tea. Freeze for at least 5-6 hours, or overnight, until completely solid.
  8. To unmold, run the outside of the molds under warm water for 5-10 seconds, then gently pull the sticks to release.

Notes

The baking soda is the whole trick here — it mellows the tannins so you can brew a bold, full-flavored tea without bitterness once frozen. Use fully ripe, fragrant peaches; underripe fruit turns starchy and flavorless in the freezer. Don’t overfill the molds, liquid expands as it freezes and will push the sticks out. Pops keep well in the freezer for up to 2 weeks if the molds are airtight; after that, ice crystals start to dull the texture.

Find it online: https://www.receipster.com/southern-sweet-tea-peach-popsicles-no-bitter-aftertaste/