Tea Cranberry Drink (Printable)
A chilled blend of tart cranberry juice and smooth black tea, lightly sweetened and perfect for any occasion.
# What You'll Need:
→ Tea
01 - 4 cups water
02 - 4 black tea bags or 4 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea
→ Cranberry Mixture
03 - 1 cup cranberry juice (100% unsweetened preferred)
04 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, adjusted to taste
05 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Garnish (optional)
06 - Fresh cranberries or lemon slices
07 - Ice cubes
08 - Fresh mint leaves
# Directions:
01 - Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat and steep black tea bags for 4–5 minutes. Remove tea bags and let tea cool slightly.
02 - Combine cranberry juice, honey or maple syrup, and lemon juice in a large pitcher. Stir until sweetener is dissolved.
03 - Pour warm tea into the cranberry mixture and stir to blend evenly.
04 - Refrigerate the mixture until thoroughly chilled, about 1 hour.
05 - Serve the beverage over ice and garnish with fresh cranberries, lemon slices, or mint leaves as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes elegant and complex but takes barely 15 minutes from start to first sip.
- The tartness of cranberry cuts through summer heat like nothing else, and your body knows it's getting something real.
- It works equally well as a casual weeknight refresh or something you'd serve at a dinner that actually impresses people.
02 -
- Unsweetened cranberry juice is non-negotiable—sweetened versions dominate the flavor and flatten everything interesting about this drink.
- Fresh lemon juice makes a visible difference that bottled simply cannot match; the brightness feels alive instead of chemical.
03 -
- Chill your pitcher and glasses beforehand so the drink stays cold longer and tastes fresher with every sip.
- Add the garnish right before serving; cranberries and mint release their best flavors when they haven't been sitting in cold liquid for hours.