Last Updated on July 18, 2020 by Slow The Cook Down
This iced green tea is flavored with mint, lemon and honey and spiked with vodka for a delicious ice cold pitcher cocktail. Quick and easy to make, this healthier cocktail is wonderfully light and a great summer sipper. It’s easy to make this hard iced green tea alcoholic.
I’ve been on a bit of a green tea kick lately, it happens every 6 months or so when I decide that 20 gallons of coffee before midday is probably not a good idea. At the same time, i’ve been eyeing up that bottle of Tito’s vodka that has been quietly sitting on my kitchen counter!
It’s super easy to make a pitcher of this tea cocktail and it’s perfect if you are planning a lazy weekend in the sun. It’s light and refreshing to drink and the fresh fruits make it wonderfully bright and colorful.
If you love the ease of pitcher cocktails, be sure to check out my Elderflower Mojito and White Wine Sangria.
Ingredients
- Water: Nothing fancy here, tap water will do the job and filtered is even better.
- Green tea: I used green tea bags, but you can use loose leaf tea if you prefer. If you use loose leaf you will need 8 teaspoons.
- Lemon and mint: Lemon and mint work so well with green tea. They add a wonderful aroma and freshness to each sip.
- Honey: A little honey helps to balance out the bitterness of the green tea.
- Cucumber and strawberries: Added to the pitcher to add color and flavor. Totally optional but definitely advised.
- Vodka: I used Tito’s vodka, but you can use your favorite brand or whatever you have to hand.
- Ice cubes: To serve an icy cold drink.
How to make spiked iced green tea
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Add the tea bags, lemon and mint to just boiled water and let brew (photo 1).
- Remove the tea bags, lemon and mint, stir in honey and let cool.
- Add the sliced fruit an cucumber to a pitcher with ice cubes and pour over vodka (photo 2).
- Add the green tea to the pitcher and finish with mint sprigs (photo 3).
Frequently asked questions
I opted to use vodka for this cocktail, Tito’s is one of my favorite brands. You can easily swap the vodka for another spirit, although I would stick with a clear one like gin or white rum. You can also use a flavored vodka, lemon, lime and strawberry would all work well, as would my homemade infused green apple vodka.
This cocktail makes enough for 6 and contains 9 ounces of vodka, so it works out to 1.5 ounces (or shots!) per drink. It’s easy to drink an will give you a little buzz. Of course, if you want to go a bit harder, you can easily add more alcohol. Likewise, if you want a no booze drink, simply omit it and it will still be delicious!
This cold iced tea will keep well in the fridge for around 2 to 3 days.
Make ahead
This is an awesome make ahead pitcher, I tend to make it at least a day ahead to really let the flavors develop. It’s best not to add the ice to the pitcher until you are ready to serve it so that it doesn’t melt and dilute the drink.
A Healthy(er) cocktail
This spiked green tea is healthier than a lot of cocktails, coming in at around 125 calories a glass. It contains no added refined sugar and virtually no fat. Green tea also contains antioxidants and if you eat the fruit you can get some vitamins in too!
- Make it vegan by swapping the honey for maple syrup or agave
- Make it low carb and keto friendly by using stevia instead of honey.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Don’t squeeze the teabags when you remove them from the water, they can release bitterness if you do.
- Use large ice cubes in the pitcher. They will melt slower and won’t dilute the drink.
- Let the pitcher sit overnight for the best flavor, at a minimum, let it sit in the fridge for 4 hours.
- Add in sweetener to your taste.
More Easy Cocktail Recipes
- Cherry and Champagne Cocktail Recipe
- Spiced Rum Cocktail with Apple Vodka
- Wake Up Sunshine – A Prosecco Brunch Cocktail
- Caesar Drink – A Canadian Brunch Cocktail
- French Mule Cocktail
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Spiked Iced Green Tea
Ingredients
- 10 cups water
- 8 green tea bags
- 1 lemon sliced
- 12 mint leaves
- 3 tablespoons honey or to taste
To make the pitcher
- 1 lemon sliced
- 1/2 cucumber sliced
- 8 strawberries halved
- 9 ounces vodka
- mint sprigs
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil on the stovetop.
- Take the pot off of the heat and add the teabags, one lemon (sliced) and mint leaves.
- Let brew for 15 minutes before removing the tea bags, lemon and mint. Stir in the honey.
- Let the pot cool either in the fridge or at room temperature.
Make the pitcher
- Add the lemon, cucumber and strawberries to a large pitcher and pour over the vodka.
- Add in the green tea and give it a stir. Add in the mint sprigs.
- Keep in fridge until ready to serve. Add ice cubes just before serving.
Notes
- Make it vegan by swapping the honey for maple syrup or agave
- Make it low carb and keto friendly by using stevia instead of honey.
- Don’t squeeze the teabags when you remove them from the water, they can release bitterness if you do.
- Use large ice cubes in the pitcher. They will melt slower and won’t dilute the drink.
- Let the pitcher sit overnight for the best flavor, at a minimum, let it sit in the fridge for 4 hours.
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