Green Tea Lemonade

Let's have one more beverage, shall we?

 It IS summer, and we must stay hydrated with lots of fluids. Who says they can't be tasty, too?

As do gazillions of other people around the world, Matt and I enjoy our coffee shops and juice bars. We are absolutely looking forward to living in the northwest because of the varieties of little shops (and our budget will be a little less tight to indulge a bit more!). Matt introduced me to Starbucks' Green Tea Lemonade, a citrusy happy drink. It's cool, refreshing, cheaper than a latte, and semi-healthy, too! But it's still...

 $3.59 for a venti!

(AKA not in students' daily budgets, especially when I want 2 at a time)  

So I recreated and, if I do say myself, it's pretty spot on...and it costs $ 0.71  for a venti (20 oz.)!

Green Tea Lemonade

makes 4 large (20 oz.) servings

6 cups water

6 teabags

2 TB agave syrup (optional)

Juice of 10 lemons (about 1 1/4 cups)

Boil 6 cups water in pot or teapot. Turn off burner and drop in teabags. Let steep for 5 minutes.

Add in lemon juice and agave syrup and stir. Add 2 cups ice and 3/4 cup water and chill for 2 hours. Sweeten (or don't) to taste.

 

Tea $3/box (20 bags)     --->  $0.90

Lemons 6/$1.00            --->   $1.66

Agave syrup $5/bottle  --->   $0.25

TOTAL:   $2.81 --->  $0.71 each!

So there you have it, a perfect summer drink that was completely not my idea. I still love Starbucks, but this homemade treat has fresh lemons and quenches my thirst for very little money. Kids love it, too. Happy sipping!!

An adult flavor: To serve as a summer cocktail, run a lemon slice around the rim of the glass and dip into sugar. Pour 12 ounces of green tea lemonade in glass. Using one of the cored out half lemons, fill with tequila (or favorite liquor) and drop, top side up, into glass. Sip and savor.