The drink du jour is bottled green tea. The antioxidant benefits of green tea are well known, so this is a positive development. The problem is that the health and grocery store varieties are high in sugar and other additives. You can make this delicious drink at home for a fraction of the cost, and most importantly, without all of the sugar and additives.
Natural Green Tea Soda
Four one cup servings.
INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons of loose green tea or 2 green tea bags (Loose tea is preferable.)
2 cups boiling water, slightly cooled below boiling temperatures
2 cups sparkling mineral water
OPTIONAL: 1 tsp honey. Stevia may be used in place of honey.
Follow your general tea making process:
- Place loose tea in a pot or use loose tea in an infuser, or place the tea bags in pot, Pyrex measuring cup, or other heatproof container.
- Pour a small amount of cool water on the tealeaves before the addition of the hot water to prevent shocking the leaves. This will allow more of the nutrients to be released when the hot water is added.
- Add the two cups of cooled boiling water over the tea and let it steep for three minutes. This will make a very aromatic green tea with a lovely green color. Longer steeping will release more tannin, which makes the tea bitter.
- Transfer tea to a pitcher. Strain tealeaves from liquid, or remove infuser or tea bags from pot. Do not squeeze the tea bags as this releases more bitter tannins.
- Cool at room temperature and then place tea in refrigerator to cool for at least an hour.
- If desired, sweeten with honey, or Stevia, after tea has cooled.
- When ready to serve, pour half a cup of tea into a tall glass.
- Add an equal amount of sparkling water into the tea.
- Garnish with squeezed lemon or lime.
- Enjoy.
NOTE: Experiment with a variety of herbal teas.
