Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea Recipe
If you’re searching for a way to upgrade your summer sips with vibrant, sun-kissed flavor, Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea is about to be your new go-to refresher. This dazzling drink brings together the mellow earthiness of green tea, the citrusy zing of Florida’s finest oranges and grapefruit, and the lush brightness of fresh strawberries and mint. Every glass sparkles with energizing color and irresistible flavor: think sweet-tart, fruit-forward, and impossibly refreshing. It’s the full Florida sunshine experience, poured right over ice—perfect for porch hangs, brunches, or any time you crave something a little extraordinary.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea is how each ingredient shines in its own delicious way, creating a perfectly balanced pitcher you’ll crave all season. Here’s what you’ll need and why every component matters.
- Florida Orange Juice: Adds vivid sweetness and unmistakable citrus aroma to every sip.
- Florida Grapefruit Juice: Lends elegant tartness and a slight floral note for extra complexity.
- Florida Orange wedges: These are both colorful garnish and a burst of juicy flavor in your glass.
- Florida Grapefruit wedges: Their ruby color and slight bitterness highlight the fresh fruit theme.
- Water: Essential base for steeping green tea, keeping things hydrating and light.
- Green tea bags: The grassy, clean base note that brings the whole drink together; choose your favorite variety.
- Honey: Naturally sweetens the tea while adding a delicate floral touch—adjust to taste!
- Strawberries, hulled and chopped: These burst into the tea with sweet juiciness and gorgeous color.
- Mint leaves: Just a handful wakes everything up with fresh, cooling fragrance.
- Lemon juice: For a brush of tang that keeps the sweetness balanced and bright.
- Ice: No iced tea is complete without plenty of it; it keeps every glass frosty and refreshing.
How to Make Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea
Step 1: Steep Your Green Tea
Start by bringing 4 ½ cups of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan. As soon as it hits a boil, remove the pan from the heat and drop in all 18 green tea bags. Let the tea steep for a generous 15 minutes—this ensures your Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea gets a beautiful, full-bodied depth without going bitter.
Step 2: Sweeten and Chill
After steeping, pull out the tea bags and press them lightly to get every last bit of flavor. While the tea is still warm, stir in the honey—it dissolves best when the liquid is heated. Blend until the honey is completely integrated, then pop the tea into the refrigerator to chill; this keeps everything fresh and crisp for your final mix.
Step 3: Muddle the Strawberry-Mint Magic
In a cocktail shaker or sturdy bowl, combine your chopped strawberries and mint leaves. Use a muddler or even the back of a spoon to gently crush the berries and leaves together. You want the strawberries juicy and broken down, and the mint releasing its fragrance and flavor—this step is where your Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea gets its signature sparkle!
Step 4: Mix It All Together
Once your tea is well-chilled, grab a large pitcher. Pour in the muddled strawberry-mint mix, then add your cooled green tea, Florida orange juice, Florida grapefruit juice, and that squeeze of lemon juice. Stir everything together thoroughly. Let this beautiful blend sit in the fridge for another 2 to 3 hours—this gives the flavors plenty of time to mingle and infuse.
Step 5: Serve Over Ice
When you’re ready to serve, fill tall glasses with ice (the more, the better) and pour your shimmering Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea over top. Finish each glass with a couple of orange and grapefruit wedges for the ultimate touch of brightness and color.
How to Serve Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea
Garnishes
Give your Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea the full spa treatment with an artful garnish. Try a skewer with alternating orange and grapefruit wedges, a whole strawberry perched on the rim, or a sprig of fresh mint tucked into the glass. Not only is this a flavor boost, but it instantly turns your iced tea into a party for the senses!
Side Dishes
Pair this drink with summer salads, grilled shrimp, or a platter of ripe melon for a truly refreshing spread. The zippy citrus and berry notes of Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea complement anything light, crunchy, or subtly sweet—think cucumber sandwiches, scones, or even a slice of angel food cake.
Creative Ways to Present
Set up a lemonade-stand style DIY iced tea bar with bowls of citrus wedges, berries, and mint so guests can mix their own glass. Serve in mason jars with striped straws for a charming picnic vibe, or use a glass dispenser to show off the tea’s sunset hues at your next brunch. However you present it, this drink never fails to steal the show.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any extra Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors mellow and blend even more as it sits, making day-two sips just as lovely as the first.
Freezing
While it’s best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze leftover tea in ice cube trays—perfect for popping into new batches to avoid watering the drink down, or tossing into summer smoothies for a burst of fruity goodness.
Reheating
Since this is iced tea, there’s no need to reheat, but if you ever want it warm on a chilly evening, just gently heat on the stovetop until steaming (don’t boil), then sip and dream of Florida sunshine!
FAQs
Can I use bottled juices instead of fresh-squeezed?
Absolutely! While fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juice capture Florida’s sunshine at its peak, high-quality bottled juice works wonderfully for convenience and still delivers zesty, vibrant results in your Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea.
Can I make this tea less sweet?
Definitely. Adjust the honey to your taste, or try a splash of agave or leave out sweetener altogether—the fruits bring plenty of natural sweetness, so it’s easy to customize!
Is this recipe good for a crowd?
Yes, it’s absolutely perfect for gatherings! Simply double or triple the recipe, then serve with plenty of ice and a tray of colorful citrus wedges so everyone can make their Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea their own.
What type of green tea should I use?
Any green tea variety you love will shine here. Classic unflavored green tea offers a subtly grassy background, but you can experiment with jasmine or even citrus-flavored blends for a unique twist.
Can I make this ahead of time?
This recipe is tailor-made for prepping ahead! Mix up your pitcher the night before and chill—just hold off on the ice and garnishes until serving time to keep your Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea crisp and vibrant.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to bring a splash of Florida sunshine to your next gathering or just want to treat yourself to something brilliantly refreshing, don’t miss out on Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea. With its playful colors and all-natural flavors, this pitcher is bound to become your new favorite sip of the season. Go ahead—pour yourself a glass and toast to summer!
Print
Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy the refreshing taste of Florida Citrus Strawberry Iced Green Tea, a perfect blend of citrus juices, green tea, strawberries, and mint. This chilled beverage is ideal for a hot summer day or a relaxing afternoon treat.
Ingredients
Green Tea:
- 4 ½ cups water
- 18 green tea bags
Tea Base:
- 1 cup Florida Orange Juice
- 1 cup Florida Grapefruit Juice
Strawberry Mixture:
- 1 ½ cups strawberries, hulled and chopped
- ½ cup mint leaves
- ¼ cup lemon juice
Garnish:
- 6 Florida Orange wedges
- 6 Florida Grapefruit wedges
Instructions
- Prepare Green Tea: Boil water in a saucepan, remove from heat, add tea bags, steep for 15 minutes, and discard tea bags.
- Mix Tea Base: Stir in honey, refrigerate until chilled.
- Prepare Strawberry Mixture: Muddle strawberries and mint leaves in a shaker until fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: In a pitcher, mix strawberry mixture, chilled tea, Florida Orange Juice, Florida Grapefruit Juice, and lemon juice. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
- Serve: Pour over ice in tall glasses, garnish with Florida Orange and Grapefruit wedges.
Notes
- You can adjust sweetness by adding more honey if desired.
- For a stronger citrus flavor, add more Florida Orange or Grapefruit Juice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mixing, Muddling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Florida, Citrus, Strawberry, Green Tea, Beverage, Refreshing
