Honey Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade
This refreshing drink is the kind of thing you'll want to make on repeat all summer long — bright, citrusy, and just a little earthy from the green tea. The sweetness comes entirely from maple syrup, which dissolves beautifully into the hot tea and brings a subtle depth that plain sugar simply can't match. That swap is the key move here, making this a genuinely satisfying lemonade for anyone avoiding honey without sacrificing a single drop of flavor. Fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice give it a vibrant, layered tartness that bottled juice just can't replicate. Straining the citrus and steeping the tea carefully — without squeezing the bags — keeps everything clean and smooth in the glass. Poured over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it looks as good as it tastes and comes together with almost no 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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