T&T (Tea and Tonic)

Cold brew tea. Nassima Rothacker

T&T (Tea and Tonic)

Tea and tonic: a perfect drink for that gin and tonic moment if you don’t have an alcohol-free spirit to hand, or don’t want to go down the juniper syrup route.

Serves 1

• Ice cubes
• About 7 ounces strained Cold Brew Tea (recipe follows)
• Generous squeeze of lemon, about 1 teaspoon
• Splash of Indian tonic water, to top up
• Slice of lemon, to garnish

Fill a tumbler with ice cubes. Pour over the cold brew tea, squeeze in the lemon juice. and stir to mix. Top up with a splash of Indian tonic water.

Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve.

Cold Brew Tea

You might think you wouldn’t get much flavor out of tea that’s been brewed in cold water—I didn’t either and I was amazed. It’s particularly well suited to delicate teas like green tea that can be scorched and made to taste bitter by boiling water. It’s also mercifully sugar-free, although you will add a little when you top it up with tonic to serve. Make up a jug and keep it in the refrigerator.

Makes about 1 3/4 cups (14 ounces)

• 3 tea bags (I like Earl Grey green tea bags) or 2 to 3 teaspoons loose tea, depending on the tea (a stronger brew than usual, but you’re going to be diluting it with ice to serve)
• 1 3/4 cups (14 ounces) water

Put the tea bags or tea leaves in a jug or other container, pour over the measured water and stir. Cover and leave to brew at room temperature for 5–6 hours, or in the refrigerator overnight, before serving. 

Tip: Fill a flask with cold brew tea and carry it with you when you‘re on the move. It‘s much cheaper—and nicer—than the commercial cold-infuse tea bags.

All recipes reprinted with permission from “How to Drink Without Drinking: Celebratory Alcohol-Free Drinks for Any Time of the Day” by Fiona Beckett. Published by Kyle Books.