Summer is on the come, friends. Backyard barbeques, pool parties, beach bonfires or just a relaxing moment after a busy workday call for some refreshment. China Mist Iced Teas are fabulous all on their own, but sometimes you crave a little something more. So we’re sharing our favorite ideas for iced tea cocktails. And we can all agree that Long Island Iced Tea is just a pretender, right? 😉
Royal Tea
When we think of all things British, we think of Austin Healeys, double decker busses, James Bond, stiff upper lips, gin, and of course, tea. For this cocktail, we recommend using our Lavender Earl Grey – brew it hot and let it cool in refrigerator.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 ounces dry gin
- 2 ounces freshly brewed Earl Grey tea, chilled
- 1 splash lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar, to taste
- Lemon wheel, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the gin, tea, lemon juice and sugar.
- Shake gently and strain into an old-fashioned glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Hibiscus High Tea
Our Berry Hibiscus iced tea lends a fairly flashy floral edge to this Cognac-based cocktail. We think you’ll find it refreshing but be careful: it also packs a punch.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 teaspoon grenadine
- 1 lemon wheel, sliced in two
- 1 ounce curaçao
- 1 ounce cognac
- 1½ ounce Berry Hibiscus iced Tea
- Lemon wheel for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- In a Collins glass, combine the grenadine and lemon wheel
- Muddle until the oils from the citrus are released into the syrup.
- Add the curaçao, cognac and tea, then fill with crushed ice.
- Stir until the cocktail starts to dilute, then add more ice and garnish.
Sparkling Summer Green Tea Punch
Break out your punch bowl for this delightful summer refresher.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 750 ML. bottle sparkling white wine (we love this with prosecco)
- 12 ounces. Iced Blackberry Jasmine Green Tea
- 3 ounces fresh lemon juice (if you can, use Meyer lemons for their sweeter, more floral flavor profile)
- 9 ounces honey syrup (To make honey syrup, blend 2 parts honey to 1 part water in a sauce pan and warm until it’s well mixed. Cool before adding to your punch bowl.)
- Sprigs of mint and lemon wheels for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- Mix all the ingredients together in a punch bowl
- Add a large block of ice to chill.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves and lemon
The Palomita
A tea time take on the Paloma, featuring our Fiesta Fria Iced Tea.
INGREDIENTS
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- 3 ounces Fiesta Fria Iced Tea
- 2 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey, to taste
- Lime wheel, for garnish
- Coarse salt for rim, if desired
DIRECTIONS
- If you want a salted rim, do this first: Spread salt on a small plate, rub the rim of glass(es) with a cut lime to dampen. Then invert the glass and dip the rim in the salt.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the tequila, Fiesta Fria Iced Tea, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and honey.
- Shake to combine and strain into a glass.
