Capsaicin Free Green Tea Citrus Agua Fresca
This refreshing agua fresca is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting somewhere sunny and unhurried, even if you're just at your kitchen counter. Delicate green tea forms the backbone of the recipe, lending a subtle earthiness that plays beautifully against the brightness of fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice. Maple syrup sweetens everything naturally, and a small pinch of salt rounds out the citrus in a way that's surprisingly sophisticated. The whole thing comes together in a large pitcher, making it easy to scale up for a crowd or keep chilled for sipping throughout the day. For anyone navigating sensitivity to capsaicin, this is the kind of recipe that requires zero substitutions or label-checking — every ingredient is straightforwardly gentle and plant-based. A few thin citrus slices and fresh mint on top make it look like something you'd pay good money for at a café. It's cooling, lightly sweet, and genuinely hard to stop drinking.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the green tea base
- 4 cups water
- 4 green tea bags
- 3 tbsp maple syrup, plus more to taste
For the citrus blend
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 medium oranges)
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 2 cups cold water
- ¼ tsp fine salt
For serving
- 1 cup ice cubes, for serving
- 4 thin orange or lime slices, for garnish (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from the heat. Add the green tea bags and steep for 3 minutes, until the tea is a clear, pale gold-green color. Remove and discard the bags — do not squeeze them, as this releases bitter tannins.
- 2
Stir the maple syrup into the hot tea until fully dissolved. Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes, then refrigerate until cold, at least 10 minutes.
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