Iced Lemongrass Coconut Green Tea + Blackberry Ice Cubes
Who's ready for lemonade weather??
I am... sort of. Do I even need to mention it? Ahh, well for the newbies, I'm still getting over my PCD (post Christmas depression), as my good
Mikayla calls it (go check out her blog ASAP). I know... it's mid April and I really need to stop listening to Michael Bublé Holiday radio... I can't help it.
Maybe one day. Just not today.
I will admit though, I have been listening to a decent amount of reggae lately...
So, I'm just going to skip to the point-- this green tea lemonade.
I've had a teeny tiny bit of lemongrass leftover from the
and I knew I wanted to make some sort of simple syrup/drink with it. Well, until my mom showed me the idea of lemongrass lemonade (going back to
about how I hate when people give me recipe ideas). In short, I basically banned my own recipe from myself because I was shown it before I actually made it. Thanks to her though, I came up with this beauty of a lemonade/iced tea.
It's kind of like my take on an "Arnold Palmer"- sweet tea & lemonade; but green tea instead of black tea, the additional lemongrass, and of course I had to throw in a little (or a lot) of coconut.
Super refreshing, sweet, citrusy, and a whole lot more fun than the average lemonade or green tea.
The blackberry ice cubes kind of tone down the sweetness from the coconut water and sugar. Plus they're super fun!!
I will warn you: If you're not a coconut person- this might not be the drink for you.
Despite my holding on to the Holiday season, I've been in a super tropical & Caribbean inspired mood lately... With the reggae music, super sunny weather, planning our Hawaii trip this summer, and this lemonade. Something about green tea + lemongrass + coconut just screams "beach" to me. My kind of beach at least!
I like to use coconut sugar for added flavor, but the color will turn out a little brown. I used honey this time just for color reasons, but I definitely recommend the coconut sugar. Granulated sugar also works perfectly, if you have neither liquid sweeter nor coconut sugar.
Okay, if I showed this to any traditional southern sweet tea drinker where I live, I'm sure they would be a little offended and slightly confused.
Good thing I'm not a normal southern girl... (more tea for me!!)
Iced Lemongrass Coconut Green Tea + Blackberry Iced Cubes
Makes a 64 oz. pitcher
2 lemongrass stalks
2 lemons
3 tbs. green tea leaves
1 lemon green tea bag (optional)
2 cups coconut water
3/4 cup coconut sugar* + 3/4 cup water OR 1/2 cup honey/agave syrup/coconut nectar + 1/2 cup water
5-6 cups water (start w/ 5-- add 6 if too sweet/strong)
12 oz. fresh blackberries
lemon slices
fresh mint (optional)
Cut lemongrass stalks into quarters, slit each in half, and make 2 bundles tied with kitchen twine.
In a medium pot, reduce sugar/liquid sweetener with lemongrass in equal parts water over medium heat, until all sugar is dissolved. Add 1 cup water, green tea leaves, green tea bag (optional), & lemon juice, and let steep for 8-10 minutes. Strain and discard lemongrass/green tea leaves.
Pour into a large pitcher, add remaining 4 cups water. Let cool to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes). Add coconut water, taste and add the other cup of water if needed. Stir & refrigerate until cold.
Pulse the blackberries in a blender until mostly smooth. Pour into ice trays & freeze until hardened. Pull out right before ready to serve.
Serve tea with lemon slices, fresh mint, and blackberry ice cubes.
XOXO
-Cecilia A.