Nutmeg Free Green Tea Citrus Agua Fresca
This refreshing drink lands somewhere between a spa sip and a backyard party staple — bright citrus, grassy green tea, and just enough maple sweetness to make it feel like a treat. Fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice do the heavy lifting here, giving every glass a vivid, sun-ripened flavor that bottled juice simply can't match. The maple syrup dissolves right into the hot tea, so the sweetness is smooth and even throughout rather than pooling at the bottom. A pinch of fine salt might sound unexpected in a cold drink, but it quietly sharpens all the other flavors in a way that makes the whole pitcher taste more alive. Warm-spice blends and baking seasonings are completely absent from this recipe, so anyone avoiding certain spices can pour a glass without a second thought. The technique of not squeezing the tea bags is a small but important detail — it keeps the base clean and mellow rather than bitter, which lets the citrus shine. Serve it over ice with a mint sprig and a citrus wheel and it looks every bit 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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