Carrageenan Free Green Tea Citrus Agua Fresca
This refreshing pitcher drink layers the grassy, delicate notes of green tea with bright citrus — fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice that brings a sunny, tangy lift to every sip. Maple syrup steps in as the sweetener, dissolving smoothly into the warm tea and letting you dial the sweetness exactly where you want it. The small pinch of salt is easy to overlook, but it quietly rounds out the citrus and makes the whole drink taste more alive. Many bottled teas and flavored waters sneak in thickeners and stabilizers that people following a carrageenan-free lifestyle have to watch for on every label — brewing your own base from scratch sidesteps all of that completely. The technique is simple: steep, sweeten, chill, and combine, with a fine-mesh strainer doing the work of keeping things clean and pulp-free. Served over ice with a curl of citrus and a sprig of mint, it looks like something from a café menu but comes together with ingredients you likely already have on hand. It's the kind of drink that makes a regular afternoon feel like a little occasion.
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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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