Arielle Cruz
Adding alcohol to tea is a time-honored tradition, with the earliest known example being sailor's grog, which combined tea with citrus and Indonesian arrack. Today, tea is added to cocktails like the Long Island Iced Tea, and alcohol is added to tea to create drinks like the Hot Toddy. Tea can also be infused directly into alcohol, creating unique flavors, and alcohol can be added to iced tea for a refreshing summer drink.
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What You'll Learn
Tea cocktails
Today, tea cocktails are a fun way to experiment with different flavours and spirits. A simple way to make a tea cocktail is to spike your favourite iced tea with a shot of liquor. Vodka, rum, tequila or whiskey work well, and you can add a sweetener like limoncello or flavoured syrup. If you're feeling fancy, try a mango iced tea cocktail with Canadian whisky and mango rum, or an Arnold Palmer with iced tea, lemonade and a shot of your chosen spirit.
For a refreshing summer drink, add gin and fresh fruit to freshly brewed iced tea. If you're a gin purist, you can infuse the spirit with your favourite tea—Earl Grey is a popular choice—and use it as a base for a martini or a classic cocktail like an Old Fashioned. You can also add a floral twist to an Old Fashioned by infusing bourbon with Pu'er tea.
If you're looking for a hot cocktail, you can't go wrong with a classic Hot Toddy. Simply pour your favourite spirit—rum, gin, whiskey or vodka—into a mug with honey, a spritz of lemon and top it off with hot tea. For a wintery twist, try a hot toddy with warming rooibos and bourbon. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, Su Jung Kwa is a traditional Korean tea made from cinnamon, ginger, spices, sweet dried dates and pine nuts, given an extra kick with rye whiskey.
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Hot toddies
A hot toddy is a mixed drink made of liquor and hot water, with honey (or in some recipes, sugar), lemon, and spices. The drink is typically served hot and is drunk as a nightcap or to relieve cold and flu symptoms. The word "toddy" comes from the toddy drink in India, produced by fermenting the sap of palm trees.
The classic hot toddy cocktail is made with hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon. However, the drink is highly customizable, and other spirits like brandy, rum, tequila, mezcal, or gin can be used as a base instead of whiskey. Additional ingredients such as cloves, a lemon slice, or cinnamon (in stick or ground form) are often also added. For example, a "cold toddy" is made with rye whiskey, oranges, lemons, cinnamon sticks, ginger, Earl Grey tea, cloves, honey, and orange or regular bitters. It is served with ice and stirred until very cold.
The hot toddy is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed in various settings, from a snowbound mountain cabin to an acclaimed cocktail menu. Its origins date back to the mid-18th century, and it is believed to have first been used as a medicinal aid. Today, it is a popular choice for warming up on cold evenings or as a comforting nightcap.
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Tea punches
Over time, tea punches evolved into more elaborate drinks, incorporating brandy, Madeira wine, and champagne. Today, tea punches have been adapted into cocktails, such as Long Island Iced Tea, and modern tea punches like the Green Tea Punch, which uses lime juice, hot tea, Moroccan mint green tea, and rum.
The beauty of tea punches is that they can be customised to suit individual tastes. Whether you prefer black tea, green tea, or herbal infusions, there is a tea punch variation to explore. Tea ice cubes are also a great way to add complexity to a punch, as the ice slowly melts and changes the flavour profile of the drink.
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Tea syrups
To make a tea syrup, brew a cup of tea as you normally would but make it a bit stronger. Then, combine it with an equal amount of sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. You can also make the syrup without heat by steeping tea leaves overnight in cold water and then mixing in sugar until dissolved. If you want a thicker syrup, you can cook it for longer so that more water evaporates. Tea syrups can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Once you've made your tea syrup, you can add different types of alcohol to infuse the tea's flavour into the spirit. For martinis or drinks with only a few ingredients, infusing tea leaves directly in alcohol is an effective way to transfer the tea's flavour. For instance, green tea can be infused with Japanese whisky, while chamomile tea can be infused with gin.
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Tea ice cubes
To make tea ice cubes, start by brewing your chosen tea. The type of tea you use is up to your preference, but some popular options include black tea, such as Earl Grey, English Breakfast, or Chai tea, or green tea. You can also experiment with flavoured teas, such as fruit teas like peach tea or herbal teas like mint tea. If you're using tea bags, place them in a cup or a kettle and pour the hot water over them. If you're using loose-leaf tea, you can use a stainless steel tea holder or a disposable paper tea bag. Let the tea steep for the recommended time, which will vary depending on the type of tea. For black tea and green tea, steep for 4 to 5 minutes, and for herbal or flavoured teas, steep for 6 to 8 minutes. Avoid using boiling water, as this can affect the flavour of the tea.
Once the tea has finished steeping, remove the tea bags or loose leaves and allow the tea to cool for about 20 minutes. You don't want to put it in the freezer while it's too hot, but it's fine if it's still warm. Then, pour the tea into ice cube trays or moulds. You can use regular ice cube trays or get creative with fun-shaped ice moulds. Place the trays or moulds in the freezer and let them freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Now that you have your tea ice cubes, you can use them in a variety of drinks. Of course, they are perfect for cooling down hot tea without diluting it, especially if you use the same type of tea. But tea ice cubes really shine in iced tea, cocktails, and punches. For iced tea, simply place the cubes in a glass and pour your favourite tea over them. You can also add a dash of heavy cream or lemon juice for extra flavour. Tea ice cubes are also excellent in cocktails, as they add a unique twist and slowly release flavour as they melt. Experiment with different types of tea and alcohols to create your own unique combinations. For example, try infusing chamomile directly into gin and using it in a Tom Collins or an Old Fashioned. Or, for a mango iced tea cocktail, add Canadian whisky and mango rum to your tea ice cubes.
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Frequently asked questions
Adding alcohol to tea is called "spiking your tea".
Some cocktails that include tea are the Hibiscus Clove Iced Tea, the Iced Green Tea Latte, the Arnold Palmer, the Long Island Iced Tea, and the Hot Toddy.
Some alcohol that can be infused with tea includes martini, bourbon, gin, Japanese whisky, and white rum.
Some tea that can be infused with alcohol includes green tea, white tea, red tea, black tea, and herbal tea.
Alcohol can be added directly to tea, or tea can be used as an ingredient in cocktails. Tea can also be infused with alcohol to create unique flavours.
