The Starbucks iced green tea lemonade is one of the most refreshing drinks on the menu and now you can make your very own at home! With the right ingredients, proper technique, and a few helpful tips, you will be whipping up the ultimate iced green tea in no time at all!
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Don't let the name of this drink fool you, there is more to this iced green tea lemonade than most people realize!
For instance, did you know that the Starbucks iced green tea is quite complex? In fact, it is made from a blend of green teas, spearmint, lemon verbena, and lemongrass. Your Starbucks barista will know it as Jade Citrus Mint tea.
In addition to this, the drink contains the Starbucks lemonade and ice.
Here is a list of ingredients for your Starbucks iced green tea lemonade:
The ingredient list for this iced green tea lemonade recipe is short, but there are several things that you should know about it to make a better version of the Starbucks iced green tea lemonade:
As mentioned, Starbucks uses Jade Citrus Mint tea bags in this drink. This is a Teavana tea bag and it is one that you can buy for yourself. If you want to replicated the Starbucks green tea lemonade perfectly, then this is the way to do it.
By using these tea bags, you can capture the flavors spearmint, lemongrass, and lemon verbena without any effort at all.
If you don't want to use this type of tea, however, there are still alternatives. In this case, you will need to mix green tea, mint, and citrus-flavored tea bags in one drink. You will not be able to capture the exact same taste, but you will get pretty close.
Trying to mimic Starbucks lemonade is quite difficult as that recipe contains lemon oil. Still, a storebought lemonade concentrate will work just as well.
If you do want a fresher taste or want to control the level of sweetness, though, then making a homemade batch is better. This can also be a healthier option for you as well.
This may seem like such a simple component, but can actually make all the difference. You may have heard that Starbucks uses triple filtered water. This gets rid of any sediment in the water, allowing the tea to taste its best.
Now, you don't have to take such extreme measures, but using filtered water for this recipe is a good idea. It will make the green tea in particular taste nicer.
Here are some pointers on brewing the iced tea:
When making hot tea, especially green tea, you have to pay attention to the water temperature. Green tea is quite delicate and can't withstand very hot water. If you try to steep it in boiling water, the flavors will leach out too quickly, leaving the brew bitter.
This is why it is best to use a modern electric kettle for this purpose. They often have temperature options specifically related to the different types of tea.
If you don't have one on hand, make sure to take the water off the stove well before it begins to boil.
Depending on the type of tea that you are using, you have two methods for brewing tea. If you are using Jade Citrus Mint tea, then you can opt for the more traditional method. This is where you brew hot tea and then refrigerate it.
In case you are using green tea, though, you may want to consider the cold brew method. This is where you let the tea steep in room temperature or cold water for several hours. Yes, this way takes more tim, but you do get a much smoother brew.
And, in the case of green tea, the resulting drink is actually sweeter and a lot less bitter. If you aren't a big fan of green tea I would suggest using this method. It works especially well with loose tea.
Brew the mint and citrus tea according to instructions with hot water. Chill before using in the recipe.
If you are going to be making hot tea, then you will need to chill it. There are two ways to make iced tea.
The first is the more traditional way but it does take more time. Once you brew the tea, you then place it in the refrigerator for several hours to cool.
Your second option is to use a cocktail shaker. Allow the tea to cometo room temperature. Then, place it in a cocktail shaker with ice and give it a good shake. This chills down the drink rapidly. And, if you pour it out shortly after, leaving the ice behind, the tea concentrate isn't diluted, either.
For 1 Serving
Heat the water until before it begins to boil. Remove the kettle from the stove. If the water does reach a boil, pour into a mug and let it cool down for a few minutes.
If you are using an electric kettle, heat the water to 175°F.
Add the tea bags to the hot water.
If using Teavana tea bags, leave in the water for 2 minutes. If using regular green tea bags, remove after 30 seconds to 1 minute or when tea has reached desired strength.
You can leave the mint and citrus tea bags in for a little while more, but keep tasting to make sure that they don't overpower the other flavors.
Once the bags are removed, allow the green tea concentrate to cool to room temperature.
Pour the green tea concentrate and lemonade into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well until the cocktail shaker feels cold to the touch.
Pour out into a glass and enjoy your homemade iced Starbucks green tea lemonade.
Here are some of the changes that you can make to this copycat iced Starbucks green tea lemonade:
If you want the flavors of this iced green tea lemonade to really shine through, then you should consider a stronger green tea concentrate.
For this, use a greater quantity of tea for the same amount of water. For instance, you can go up to 3 bags per half cup. Or if you are using individual green tea, mint, and citrus bags, double up on these.
What you shouldn't do, however, is to leave the tea in or longer than recommended. As mentioned, green tea is quite delicate and if left for longer than instructed, you will end up with a bitter brew that can compromise your green tea lemonade.
If you want a more concentrated lemon flavor or are simply looking for a healthier option, lemon juice is a good alternative to lemonade. Start by juicing half a lemon and adding little by little until you have gotten your desired strength.
Some people enjoy a sweeter green tea lemonade, while others don't. If you fall into the former category, you can easily sweeten your drink with a simple syrup.
This is a concoction that you can make with sugar and water. Heat an equal amount of sugar and water in a pan until the sugar has melted and the liquid has thickened. Take off heat and allow to cool.
Add syrup as desired to the cocktail shaker or the drink once it has been mixed. This liquid sweetener will blend with the green tea lemonade more easily, creating a more balanced flavor.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Starbucks green tea lemonade:
The original green tea lemonade has 50 calories per grande sized drink.
Yes, due to the presence of green tea, this beverage does contain around 25mg of caffeine per grande drink.
Here is your guide to the ultimate copycat green tea lemonade recipe! Now that you know the tricks of the trade, you can see just how easy it is for you to make this all on your own. Give it a try and you are sure to become hooked! As an added bonus, this drink is pretty healthy too.
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