Pina Colada Punch

Ingredients

5 ginger root
5 tb brown sugar
5 cassia bark
3 3/8 c water
10 china teabags
3 3/8 coconut
6 1/4 c boiling water
8 3/4 c pineapple juice
3 3/8 c rum

Instructions

Crushed ice Maraschino cherries Fresh pineapple chunks Fresh pineapple leaves (opt) Put ginger, sugar and cassia bark in a saucepan. Add 2/3 cup water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add teabags. Let stand 5 minutes, then strain into a bowl. In a blender or food processor, blend coconut and boiling water 1 minute. Let stand 5 minutes, then strain into tea mixture, pressing coconut to extract all moisture. Add pineapple juice and chill 1 hour. Add run or gin and stir well. Serve over crushed ice in tall glasses. Thread cocktail sticks with cherries and pineapple. Add a cocktail stick and swizzle stick to each glass. Garnish with pineapple leaves, if desired. VARIATION: Add more rum or gin for a stronger flavored drink.