Steep It Loose — RECIPES: TEA MOCKTAILS

Long Island iced tea is a late 20th century classic, known for its super high alcohol content without the flavor of alcohol. Yes, this can be a recipe for disaster!  The original cocktail, which has since become Long Island’s most most ubiquitous namesake, was conceived by a bartender named Robert “Rosebud” Butt at the Oak Beach Inn of Hampton Bays, Long Island, N.Y. He threw together his restaurant’s four biggest-selling liquors (vodka, rum, gin, tequila), and then added orange liqueur and a splash of Coca Cola to help mellow the stiff drink. Curiously, the result tasted a lot like a...

Serve it in a frosted mini martini glass, and you’ll never regret missing the vodka in this satisfyingly complex botanical infusion.Yield: Four 8 oz drinks Ingredients2 TBS Ceylon Orange Pekoe black loose leaf tea1 TBS agave1 cup (8 oz) water at boiling point1 cup lemon juice2 cups cold, freshly drawn waterOptional: 4-6 mint leavesOptional for garnish: lemon slices and/or mint leavesEquipment 32 oz wide-mouth Mason jarCraft Cold Brew FilterInstructionsPut tea leaves and agave into a 32 oz mason jar. Add 1 cup water at boiling point. Stir to mix well. Do not cover or handle the hot jar! Wait 5...

At The Tea Spot, we love mixology, and of course, we love our teas, so we’ve come up with some amazing, satisfying, and totally mocktail recipes. Best of all, they’re totally easy to DIY, will wow your palate and your guests, and are easier on the wallet and the without the booze. These are perfect for dry January, or if you just want a refreshing adult drink that doesn’t skimp on the pomp but offers a break from alcohol. Golden Grapefruit Bliss Yields two 12-oz mocktails Ingredients 6 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (about 1 grapefruit) 4 oz Turmeric Tonic...

Bolder Martini & Earl of Grey Goose Martini The use of tea in cocktails can contribute fragrant aromas and complex flavors. Teas are more complex than most other accents a mixologist might consider, therefore bringing a sophisticated “Je ne sais quoi” to your cocktail. Finding the perfect tea for a drink recipe is a matter of experimenting with flavor components. Whether you infuse the tea directly into a spirit or fortified wine, or add it directly or in a simple syrup, tea components can contribute in terms of flavor, bitterness, sweetness, and even astringency. This versatility can contribute in such...