Enjoy a Cold Glass of Bourbon-Spiked Peach Tea in Liberty County
Summertime & sunshine are a dynamic pair that bring so much to life here on the Georgia coast. This time of year, people are out enjoying the great outdoors while soaking up some rays. That summer sunshine is also great for relaxing and having a cold drink! Keep reading to learn more about our tea history and try our one of our favorite refreshing drink recipes: bourbon-spiked peach tea.
Ever been curious about Liberty County’s tea history?
In Liberty County, the soil is perfect for tea, and—if it had not been for a financial deal that fell through to South Carolina—we would have been producing tea for the states in the 1800s. This deep-rooted history began with Riceboro and the first tea plants that were introduced by William Jones and his daughter, Rosa Jones Screven.
At the time a Scottish venture capitalist named John Jackson visited Liberty County to inspect the tea crop. The specimens he sent to the Department of Agriculture were deemed equal to the best raised in India or China. A $30,000 appropriation to establish a government-sponsored tea project in Liberty County was secured, but the political tides turned and the project went to South Carolina. Jackson had no choice but to follow the money and go to Summerville, South Carolina to tend to the crops.
After a year of cultivation, he was convinced South Carolina’s soil was wrong and Liberty County was the best choice to grow a perfect tea crop. Unfortunately, since the tea did not take in South Carolina, the government funding was relinquished and Jackson had to abandon his tea aspirations. He did move back to Liberty County and became a resident until his death.
Jackson continued to try to secure financial backing for tea cultivation in the area but was unsuccessful. Today, the tea plants cultivated by Jackson are no longer in existence, but the soil in Liberty County continues to hold the memory of his dream!
Embrace our Tea History with One of our Favorite Recipes!
We may be bias, but the best way to enjoy a Southern beverage is to mix two of them together. This is how we came to know and love bourbon-spiked peach tea! Sweet tea and bourbon paired with fresh Georgia peaches make the perfect beverage. It will definitely cool you off on these hot summer nights. We decided to share the recipe with y’all so that you can try it out yourself and let us know what you think!
Bourbon-Spiked Peach Tea Recipe 🍹
Ingredients:
- 1 tea bag or a scoop of loose tea
- 2 cups of water
- Pure cane syrup to taste
- 1 shot of bourbon (1.5 ounces)
- 2 peach slices
⭐Tip: If you are not a big drinker, you can always leave out the bourbon and it will be just as delicious!
Instructions:
- Pour 2 cups of water into a small saucepan.
- Add tea bag and peach slices & bring to a boil.
- Just as water comes to a boil, remove from heat & cover to steep.
- Allow the mixture to steep for 10 minutes.
- Pour the tea into a pitcher & add syrup to taste. (If using loose tea, you will either need to strain the tea leaves or put them in a tea infuser.)
- Stir well.
- Allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- Pour tea over ice, add 1 shot of bourbon & stir.
- Enjoy!
Formulating the perfect glass of sweet iced tea is a fine art down here. We would be willing to bet that you have never had one quite as good as this. Come #ExploreLiberty to learn more about the tea history that shaped our community, and enjoy a glass of bourbon-spiked peach tea!
