Kuwaiti Orange Cinnamon Iced Tea

Ingredients:

For tea:

• Zest of 1/2 orange, cut into wide strips
• 1 tube cinnamon
• 8 bags of black tea
• Orange slices, cut in half, cinnamon sticks, for garnish (optional)

For the mint syrup:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 small ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
• 6 sprigs of fresh mint

Preparation:

1. To prepare tea: Pour 8 cups of water into a saucepan, add the cinnamon stick and zest, and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the tea bags, cover, and let the tea steep for 5 minutes. Then remove the tea bags and, without removing the cinnamon stick and zest, let the tea cool.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the mint syrup: Pour 1 cup of water into a saucepan, add sugar and ginger, place over low heat, and bring to a boil without stirring. As soon as the syrup begins to boil, remove the saucepan from the stove. Tear the mint sprigs and add them to the syrup. Cool the syrup to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Strain the syrup, discarding the mint and ginger.
3. Strain the tea into a decanter and add mint syrup to taste. Pour the tea into glasses filled with ice and garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.