Gelatin Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade

Total time45 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(20)

Bright, refreshing, and completely plant-based in every sip, this green tea citrus lemonade is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting on a sun-drenched patio even on an ordinary afternoon. The combination of delicate green tea, freshly squeezed lemon, and a splash of orange juice creates a layered tartness that's balanced beautifully by maple syrup — no refined sugar, no mystery additives. Many store-bought lemonades and flavored teas sneak in gelatin-based clarifying agents or other animal-derived ingredients, so making this from scratch puts you fully in control of what goes into your glass. Steeping the tea just long enough to draw out that pale gold-green color — without squeezing the bags — keeps the flavor clean and smooth rather than bitter. The maple syrup dissolves effortlessly into the hot tea base, and once everything is chilled and combined, the result is a pitcher-ready drink that's as pretty as it is thirst-quenching. Garnished with a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint, it looks genuinely impressive for something this easy to pull together.

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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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