Looking for a special way to ring in the New Year? If so, we have the fix for you!
Tea infusions are a great way to spin your favorite drink, alcoholic or not. Tea works well as an infusing agent as it steeps quickly with strong, robust flavors. You can steep tea and add it to a cocktail or mocktail, or directly infuse your spirit of choice with tea!
Whether our intentions are to create a crafty cocktail or add some zest to a non-alcoholic drink, we chose some of our favorite teas to share with you! Try Blood Orange Rooibos, Moroccan Mint, Jasmine Orange Melange, Earl Grey Blue, or Mimosa Oolong.
Start with a spirit of choice. Gin and vodkas pair with lighter, more delicate teas, while bourbons balance well with most black teas.
- 750 ml bottle of alcohol
- 2 tablespoons of loose leaf tea
Pour the alcohol over the tea leaves in either a large ball jar with lid, or the spirit bottle. Steep for 2 hours. Turn upside down every once in a while to ensure the tea steeps well. Taste your infusion at the 2 hour mark. At this point, you can decide to leave the leaves longer if needed. However, too long of a steep can lead to a bitter infusion, just like traditional tea. If you like this easy and fun way of transforming your tea, limitless options await! Here are a few recipes to get you going:
Moroccan Mint Champagne Sparkler
- ¾ oz. Moroccan Mint infused gin
- ¾ oz. simple syrup
- Champagne
- Mint leaves for garnish
Add all ingredients together in a champagne flute. Garnish with mint leaves.
Oolong Mimosa (non-alcoholic)
- 4 oz. Mimosa Oolong tea, cooled
- 4 oz. Orange Juice
Steep 5g Mimosa Oolong in 8oz. of 180 degree water for 3 minutes. Once done, immediately cool in the refrigerator. When the tea cools, combine ingredients in a champagne flute.
Jasmine Orange Fizz Twist
- 2 oz. Jasmine Orange Melange Vodka
- ¾ oz. Lemon Juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Soda water
- Lemon twist for garnish
Add all ingredients (except soda water) into a shaker and mix well. Add ice and shake again. Pour through a strainer into your cocktail glass and top with soda water. Add your lemon twist or garnish of choice.
Blood Orange Orchard Martini
- 2 oz. Blood Orange Vodka
- 1 oz. Amaretto Liqueur
- 1 oz. Grand Marnier Liqueur
- ¾ oz. Lemon Juice
- Orange or blood orange peel for garnish
Shake all ingredients over ice in a shaker and serve up! Add the garnish last.
Earl Grey Hot Toddy
- 1 ½ oz. Earl Grey Blue infused bourbon
- 1 spoonful honey
- ½ – 1 oz. lemon Juice
- 1 cup hot water
Add infused bourbon, honey and lemon to a warmed mug, top with hot water and stir.
Non-alcoholic Hot Toddy
- 1 cup Nepali Earl Grey tea (this blend used bourbon flavor and orange peel!)
- 1 spoonful honey
- ½ – 1 oz. lemon Juice
Brew 5g of Nepali Grey tea in 8oz. for 3 minutes. Add tea, honey and lemon to a warmed mug and stir.
Written by Boo Curry
