Shellfish Free Green Tea Citrus Agua Fresca
This refreshing drink is everything you want on a warm day — bright, lightly sweet, and layered with the kind of citrus flavor that actually tastes like real fruit. Freshly squeezed orange and lime juice form the backbone, balanced by a pale, delicate green tea base that keeps things from tipping too sweet or too tart. Maple syrup does the sweetening here, dissolving smoothly into the hot tea and adding just a hint of warmth that plays beautifully against the citrus. A pinch of fine salt ties it all together in a way that's subtle but makes every sip taste more alive. The whole thing comes together in a large pitcher, making it easy to scale up for a crowd or keep chilled for the week. Garnished with fresh mint and a thin citrus wheel, it looks like something you'd order at a nice café — but it's genuinely simple to pull off at home. Every single ingredient is naturally free of shellfish and any ocean-derived additives, so there's nothing to second-guess before you pour.
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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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