Tea Thyme Soda

For the Tea Thyme Soda

• ice
• 2 tablespoons Tea Thyme Syrup
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• seltzer, cold
• sprig of fresh thyme or wheel of lemon for garnish
• 1 & 1/2 ounce bourbon (optional)

1. Half fill a 12-oz glass with ice. Add the syrup, lemon juice, and optional bourbon. Fill glass with seltzer and stir gently to combine. Garnish with sprig of thyme or lemon wheel. Enjoy!
2. Note: Feel free to play with the proportions of lemon & syrup. I find it to be a refreshing balance of tart and sweet the way it is written.

For the Tea Thyme Syrup

• 8 ounces water (1 cup)
• 8 ounces sugar (1 cup plus 2 T)
• 6 bags black tea (I used Darjeeling)
• 1 to 2 teaspoon dried thyme or a handful of fresh thyme sprigs (about 1/4 oz)
• 1/2 3-inch stick cinnamon, broken (optional)

1. Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, swirling or stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Boil for 30 to 60 seconds.
2. Remove from heat & add tea, thyme, (and optional cinnamon), then cover. Allow to come to room temperature. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a glass jar, squeezing tea bags to collect as much syrup as possible. Store covered in the refrigerator.