Summer Cocktail: Green Tea Sangria

By Amber Jackson.

Summer is finally here! Brace yourself for the heatwave with a refreshing tea infused drink. It's perfect for a day at the beach, sitting in the park, or over dinner with friends. I love sangrias because you can't go wrong. And if it does go wrong, it's super easy to fix. Just add a little more fruit, or a little more wine, or maybe a flavored syrup. This green tea sangria is the perfect balance of bite from the green tea, floral, and fruity.

It's a foolproof, simple recipe that you can tweak to fit your own taste. Just steep about 6 teaspoons of out Lotus blend in 6 cups of hot water. Leave the tea bags in the water as it cools to room temperature. Sweeten with honey, sugar, or agave nectar, whichever you prefer. But be sure it is slightly over sweetened. Refrigerate until chilled. Dice about 6 medium strawberries, 2 mangos, and 2 cups of pineapple. Mix the fruit together, and add to a pitcher. Pour sweetened cooled tea over fruit. Stir well to incorporate fruit. Add half a bottle of Pinot Grigio or any dry white wine, and stir. Refrigerate over night and serve when you're ready!

Ingredients:

6 cups water

6 teaspoon Lotus tea blend

6 diced medium strawberries

2 diced ripe mangos

2 cups diced pineapple

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 bottle of Pinot Grigio or any dry white wine.

Add 6 teaspoons of Lotus blend to 6 cups of boiling water.

Boil with the lid on the pot for 3 minutes.

Remove the pot from heat and allow to reach room temperature. Once the tea is at room temperature, sweeten with sugar and honey. 

Refrigerate until chilled.

Add diced fruit to a bowl. Stir. Then add to pitcher.

Pour chilled iced tea over fruit.

Stir, then set aside.

Add half a bottle of wine. Stir. Chill overnight. Enjoy!

Some Tips & Tricks:

Tea should be slightly over sweetened. If to your taste it needs more sweetener.

Keep the tea leaves in the pot as the the tea cools. The bite from the jasmine green tea will help round out the flavor of the sangria

Make it a cocktail by subbing out the wine for club soda or ginger ale.

OR... If you'd like to add a little pep, add some Prosecco to you your sangia!

HAPPY SUMMER!