Cherry Limeade Iced Tea

Cherry Limeade Iced Tea Ingredients:
8 Black Tea teabags8 Cups (2 quarts) Cold WaterJuice from 4 to 6 Limes - about 1 Cup of Lime Juice1/4 Pound of Bing or Black Cherries1/2 Cup SugarEquipment needed:
3 or 4 Quart Pot to boil waterJuicer or ReamerCherry Pitter or knifeGallon Pitcher Directions:
Bring 2 quarts of cold water to a boil and steep in the 8 black tea teabags for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the teabags and allow the steeped tea to cool.If using fresh limes, roll them whole on a cutting board to break up the membranes before cutting them in half - this will yield more juice. Juice the limes and add the juice to a large pitcher, preferably a gallon sized pitcher. Discard all but 3 or 4 lime halves. Add the juiced lime halves to the pitcher. Set aside.Pit the cherries and cut the pitted cherries in half or quarters. Add the cut cherries to the lime juice.Dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in the cooling tea, this way it will dissolve faster. Otherwise, if you prefer not to have a sweet tea, skip this step. You can alternatively make a simple syrup by heating equal parts of sugar and water together until the sugar dissolves. Cool and set aside, allowing your guest to add as much or as little sweetener as they desire. Once the steep tea has cooled, dilute it with 4 to 6 cups of cold water, depending on how strong you want the tea. Add the cherry-limeade mixture to the diluted tea. Taste and adjust sugar as you need - making it sweeter if you prefer. Remember that the best way to add sugar to a cold beverage is to dissolve the sugar first - turning it into a simple syrup.