Cinnamon Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade

Total time45 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(20)

Bright, refreshing, and naturally sweetened, this green tea citrus lemonade is the kind of drink that makes you feel like summer arrived early. The combination of pale, delicate green tea with freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice creates a layered tartness that's balanced beautifully by maple syrup — no refined sugar, no spice blends, just clean and vibrant flavor. For anyone navigating cinnamon sensitivities, finding a flavored drink that doesn't sneak in warming spices can be trickier than expected, but every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify. The technique of steeping the tea bags without squeezing them keeps the base smooth and mellow rather than bitter, which lets the citrus really shine. Straining the fresh juice through a fine-mesh strainer gives the final pour a clean, polished look that's genuinely impressive for something this simple to make. Serve it over ice with a mint sprig and a lemon slice and it looks like something straight off a café menu.

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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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