Strawberry Green Tea Recipe

After having a baby last month and hosting nonstop visitors, I found myself serving a healthy smoothie again and again as people kept asking what made it so popular.

After having a baby last month things have been a whirlwind around here. We’ve had company galore, all gathering.

I kept reaching for a simple thing that somehow made the chaos feel less loud: a bright strawberry green tea that surprised everyone. The green tea gives a calm, grassy base while the strawberries push it into something juicy and a little wild.

Folks kept asking what it was, i’d smile and say “just try it” because it tasted like two seasons at once. I ended up filing this under Iced Tea Recipes since people asked for it on repeat.

Ingredients

Strawberry Green Tea Recipe

• Green tea gives mild caffeine and antioxidants, light grassy taste that soothes and wakes you.
• Strawberries add natural sweetness, vitamin C and fiber, makes the drink bright and summery.
• Honey or sugar sweeten it, honey adds floral notes sugar gives neutral sweetness.
• Lemon juice brings tartness, boosts vitamin C and balances sweetness with a fresh zing.
• Mint leaves lend cool aroma, a hint of herbiness and refreshing finish to sip.
• Water is the base that hydrates, ice chills fast and keeps flavors crisp and lively.
• Lemon slices look pretty and add extra citrus when you want it stronger.

Ingredient Quantities

• 4 cups water
• 3 green tea bags or 3 tsp loose leaf green tea
• about 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and sliced
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar or 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups ice cubes
• 10 fresh mint leaves
• optional lemon slices for serving

How to Make this

1. Bring 4 cups water to just under boiling, about 175-185°F, or if you only have boiling water let it sit 1 minute off the heat so it cools slightly; add 3 green tea bags or 3 tsp loose leaf in an infuser and steep 2 to 3 minutes then remove the bags or strain out leaves—don’t oversteep or it gets bitter.

2. While the tea steeps, put about 1 1/2 cups hulled, sliced strawberries in a bowl with 1/4 cup granulated sugar or if you prefer 3 tbsp honey and 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice; mash gently with a fork to release juices and let sit 5 to 10 minutes so they macerate.

3. If you chose honey, dissolve it into a couple tablespoons of the warm tea or stir it into the warm brewed tea now so it mixes evenly; if you used sugar it’s already helping pull juice from the berries.

4. Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher through a fine mesh strainer, then add the macerated strawberries and all their juices to the pitcher; give it a gentle stir to combine.

5. Clap or bruise 10 fresh mint leaves between your palms to release oils and add them to the pitcher, saving a few whole leaves for garnish if you want.

6. Add 2 cups ice cubes to the pitcher to chill and slightly dilute, or put ice in individual glasses when serving; add optional lemon slices for brightness.

7. Taste and adjust: add a bit more honey or sugar if you want it sweeter, or a splash more lemon if you want it tarter; remember honey blends better when the tea is a bit warm.

8. Let the tea chill in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes if you can so flavors marry, or serve right away over ice with mint and lemon garnish.

9. To boost strawberry flavor fast, muddle a few extra sliced berries in the bottom of each glass before pouring the tea; it makes each pour taste fresher.

10. Store leftovers covered in the fridge up to 48 hours, stir before serving because solids settle, and enjoy cold.

Equipment Needed

1. kettle or saucepan to heat the water
2. heatproof pitcher or teapot for steeping and mixing
3. fine mesh strainer or tea strainer to catch leaves and seeds
4. measuring cups and measuring spoons
5. medium bowl for macerating the strawberries
6. fork or potato masher to gently crush the berries
7. long spoon or wooden spoon for stirring
8. muddler or extra fork to crush berries in individual glasses
9. glasses, ice scoop or tongs for serving

FAQ

Strawberry Green Tea Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Green tea: swap with white tea or jasmine tea, use the same amount (3 bags or 3 tsp) but steep a bit less, about 2 to 3 minutes so it stays delicate.
• Fresh strawberries: use frozen strawberries (about 1 1/2 cups) or fresh raspberries instead, thaw or muddle frozen berries slightly so they release juice, you’ll get almost the same flavor.
• Granulated sugar or honey: use maple syrup or agave nectar, about 3 tablespoons to replace 3 tablespoons honey or roughly 1/4 cup sugar, stir well to dissolve.
• Fresh mint leaves: swap for fresh basil or lemon verbena, use 6 to 8 leaves and muddle lightly for aroma, basil gives a sweet peppery twist that’s really nice.

Pro Tips

1) Treat the tea gently. Steep it short and at lower heat so it stays smooth, taste as you go, dont let it sit too long or it gets bitter fast.

2) Let the berries sit with sugar or lemon for at least 10 minutes so they release real juice, and if you used honey dissolve a little into warm tea first so it blends. For more berry punch mash a few extra slices in each glass before pouring.

3) Clap or lightly bruise the mint to wake up the oils but dont pulverize it or the leaves can taste sharp, save a few whole leaves for garnish so the drink looks fresh.

4) Chill the pitcher for a bit so flavors calm down, add ice to individual glasses if you want less dilution, and always stir before pouring leftovers from the fridge because the solids settle.