Rice Free Green Tea Citrus Lemonade
This refreshing drink is a bright, layered sip that brings together the grassy depth of green tea with the sunny punch of fresh lemon and orange juice. Sweetened with maple syrup instead of simple syrup or cane sugar, it has a subtle warmth that rounds out the citrus beautifully without tipping into cloying territory. For anyone navigating a rice-free lifestyle, beverages can be a sneaky source of hidden starches and fillers — but every single ingredient here is naturally free of that concern, no label-scanning required. The technique of steeping the tea bags without squeezing them is a small but smart move that keeps the flavor clean and bright rather than bitter. Fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice get strained for a silky-smooth finish, and the whole thing comes together in a large pitcher that's ready to pour over ice whenever you need it. Garnished with mint and a lemon slice, it looks as good as it tastes — the kind of drink that feels special enough for guests but easy enough for a quiet afternoon at home.
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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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