Carrageenan Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade
Bright, refreshing, and made entirely from scratch, this green tea citrus lemonade is the kind of drink that makes you feel like summer has arrived in a glass. Freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice give it a vibrant, layered tartness that store-bought versions simply can't match, while brewed green tea adds a subtle earthy depth that rounds everything out beautifully. Sweetened with maple syrup instead of processed syrups or additives, every ingredient here is clean and straightforward — no thickeners, stabilizers, or hidden gelling agents to worry about. Many packaged beverages and flavored drinks sneak in additives derived from seaweed, so making this at home puts you fully in control of what goes into your glass. The technique is simple: steep, sweeten, chill, and combine — and the tip about not squeezing the tea bags is a small but genuinely useful detail that keeps the flavor smooth and balanced. Served over ice with a sprig of fresh mint and a lemon slice, it looks as good as it tastes and is impressive enough to serve to guests without any extra effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the green tea base
- 3 cups water
- 3 green tea bags
- ¼ cup maple syrup
For the citrus blend
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
- 1 cup cold water
For serving
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 4 lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a small 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 tea 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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