Ginger Free Green Tea Citrus Agua Fresca
This refreshing drink lands somewhere between a spa-day sip and a backyard party staple — bright, lightly sweet, and layered with citrus in the best possible way. Fresh orange juice and lime juice do the heavy lifting here, giving the drink a sunny tartness that plays beautifully against the delicate, grassy notes of steeped green tea. Maple syrup brings just enough sweetness without overpowering the citrus, and a pinch of fine salt quietly ties everything together in a way that makes you want another glass. The whole thing comes together in a large pitcher, which makes it ideal for sharing — or for keeping in the fridge and pouring over ice whenever the mood strikes. Many store-bought flavored drinks and tea blends sneak in ginger as a "warming" ingredient, so making this from scratch means you know exactly what's in your cup. The technique is simple but thoughtful — steeping the tea just long enough, straining the citrus, and chilling everything properly — so the final result tastes clean and intentional rather than thrown together. Garnish with a thin citrus slice and a sprig of fresh mint, and it looks as good as it tastes.
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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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