Sweet Tea Julep Pops

Ingredients     2 cups water     2 family-size tea bags     1 cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves     1 cup cold water     3/4 cup bourbon     1/2 cup sugar $     3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice     12 (3-oz.) paper cups     12 mint leaves (optional)     12 small lemon slices (optional)     12 (3 1/2-inch) food-safe wooden ice-cream spoons Preparation     1. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and stir in 1 cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves. Cover and steep 10 minutes. Discard tea bags and mint. Stir in 1 cup cold water, bourbon, sugar, and lemon juice, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour mixture into paper cups; add a mint leaf and small lemon slice to each, if desired.     2. Cover each cup with aluminum foil; make a small slit in center, and insert 1 ice-cream spoon into each cup. Freeze 8 hours or until firm.