Emulsifier Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade
Bright, refreshing, and built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients, this green tea citrus lemonade is the kind of drink that makes you feel good about every sip. Fresh lemon and orange juice bring a natural tartness, while brewed green tea adds a subtle earthy depth that plain lemonade just can't match. Maple syrup steps in as the sweetener, dissolving smoothly into the warm tea without any of the additives or stabilizers that sneak into processed syrups and commercial drink mixes. For anyone navigating emulsifier-free eating, store-bought lemonades and bottled teas are often a minefield of lecithins and polysorbates — this recipe sidesteps all of that with nothing but fruit, tea, water, and a natural sweetener. The technique is simple: steep, sweeten, chill, and combine, with a quick strain to keep the texture clean and smooth. Served over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it looks like something from a café menu but comes together in your own kitchen with total ingredient confidence.
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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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