Refresh and rehydrate with this pineapple-infused Fruity Green Tea Spritzer!
This Fruity Green Tea Spritzer will definitely quench your thirst on summer days! We’ve been having days in the high 90’s in Nashville, so it’s been great having a pitcher of this on hand.
I first tried Tiesta Tea a few months ago and immediately fell in love with their loose leaf teas! Maybe you remember this Blueberry Tea Sangria I shared in May? Each tea I’ve tried is so flavorful, and you can see all of the great stuff in each unique blend. Like in their ‘Fruity Pebbles’ green tea, you can see the pineapple and papaya bits and delicate rose petals.
To add to the pineapple action going on in this tea, I infused the brewed tea with crushed pineapple overnight. It’s a pineapple party in a glass!
Kitchen Tip: Need help cutting that pineapple? Watch my ‘How to Cut a Pineapple’ video!
Green tea has been getting more attention in recent years for its health benefits. The best thing green tea has going on is its high level of catechins, an antioxidant that helps fight cell damage. Since green tea is processed less than other teas, especially loose-leaf variations, more of those cell-protecting antioxidants remain. Studies have shown that green tea can improve blood flow and lower cholesterol levels. It may even help prevent plaque build-up in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. I think it’s time for some green tea, don’t you?!
Since this tea is iced and seltzer water is added, I brewed it a bit stronger by using more tea than what the directions on the bag said to do. I once thought that by steeping tea longer, I’d end up with a stronger, more flavorful tea. That is not the case. Over-steeping tea gives a bitter taste, so now I set a timer whenever steeping tea because inevitably I get distracted by other things.
Squirrel!
J/k people…let’s keep this train on track.
Green tea typically should not be steeped as long as other teas (only 1-3 minutes) and the water should be at about 175°F, rather than around boiling temperature (212°F). If you want to be precise, use a thermometer to test the temperature of the water before steeping, and follow this guide for brewing different types of tea.
You can find Tiesta Tea at the following stores + many more across the U.S.: Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Albertsons, Winn Dixie, Stop & Shop, Safeway, Costco. Prefer shopping online? Order directly from Tiesta Tea or on Amazon.
I’m warning you though, once you go “loose” with your tea, you won’t go back to ready-made tea bags. 😉
Fruity Green Tea Spritzer
Ingredients
- 4 cups 32 fl oz water
- 3 tablespoons Tiesta Tea Fruity Pebbles Tea
- 1/2 teaspoon agave nectar or 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 cup pineapple chunks chopped very fine (can also use drained, crushed pineapple)
- Seltzer water
Instructions
- 1. Heat water in a tea kettle or in a saucepan on the stove top. Add the loose leaf tea to a tea infuser or infuser bag. Once the water is at the appropriate temperature (175 degrees F), pour it into a large, glass pitcher. Place the infuser into the water and allow to steep for 1-3 minutes.
- 2. Remove the infuser and add the agave nectar or honey and stir. Carefully add the crushed pineapple to the tea. Place in the refrigerator overnight to let pineapple infuse into the tea.
- 3. To serve, fill a glass with ice. Pour the tea into the glass, including the pineapple bits if you desire, filling almost to the top. Add a splash of seltzer water and serve. Garnish each glass with a pineapple chunk and a strawberry if desired.
Notes
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