MSG Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade

Total time45 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(20)

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. Every ingredient here is completely whole and unprocessed, from the freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice to the maple syrup that brings a gentle, natural sweetness. That matters more than you might think, because plenty of packaged drink mixes and flavored lemonades sneak in additives that can be hard to spot on a label. Here, you know exactly what's going in the pitcher. The technique of steeping the tea bags without squeezing them keeps the flavor clean and smooth rather than bitter, and straining the citrus juice gives the final drink a beautifully clear, polished look. Served over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it's genuinely stunning for something this simple 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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