Strawberry Ginger Iced Green Tea Cooler

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 4 servings (about 8–10 fl oz / 240–300 ml each)
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (includes chilling)

Quick Ingredients

• 4 cups (960 ml) water
• 4 green tea bags (or 4 tsp loose-leaf green tea)
• 1 cup (150 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp (about 15 g) fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 2–3 tbsp (24–36 g) honey or sugar, to taste
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice (optional but recommended)
• 2 cups (480 ml) ice cubes, plus more for serving
• Extra strawberry slices, lemon slices, and mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Do This

• 1. Heat 4 cups water to about 175°F (80°C), just below a simmer.
• 2. Steep green tea for 2–3 minutes, then remove tea bags or strain loose leaves and let the tea cool slightly.
• 3. In a large heatproof pitcher, mash strawberries with grated ginger and sweetener until juicy and pulpy.
• 4. Pour the warm (not boiling hot) green tea over the strawberry-ginger mixture and stir in lemon juice.
• 5. Add 2 cups ice cubes to the pitcher to cool quickly, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour until thoroughly chilled.
• 6. Taste and adjust sweetness or lemon, then strain into glasses if you prefer a smoother drink.
• 7. Serve over fresh ice with strawberry slices, lemon wheels, and mint sprigs as garnish.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Bright, fruity strawberry flavor balanced with a gentle kick of fresh ginger and the earthiness of green tea.
• Light, refreshing, and naturally energizing thanks to green tea’s gentle caffeine.
• Easy to customize: adjust sweetness, strength of tea, and ginger warmth to your taste.
• Perfect make-ahead cooler for hot days, brunches, or a fun non-alcoholic drink for gatherings.

Grocery List

• Produce: Fresh strawberries, fresh ginger root, lemons, fresh mint (optional).
• Dairy: None.
• Pantry: Green tea (bags or loose-leaf), honey or granulated sugar (or preferred sweetener), ice cubes, water.

Full Ingredients

For the Green Tea Base

• 4 cups (960 ml) water
• 4 green tea bags or 4 tsp (8 g) loose-leaf green tea

For the Strawberry-Ginger Mixture

• 1 cup (150 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp (about 15 g) fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated or minced
• 2–3 tbsp (24–36 g) honey or granulated sugar, to taste
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice (optional but brightens the flavors)

To Chill and Serve

• 2 cups (480 ml) ice cubes, plus more for serving
• Extra strawberry slices, lemon wheels, and mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Heat the Water for Green Tea

Pour 4 cups (960 ml) water into a saucepan or kettle. Heat until it reaches about 175°F (80°C). If you do not have a thermometer, look for small bubbles just beginning to form on the bottom of the pan, with a bit of steam rising but no vigorous boiling. Green tea tastes smoother and less bitter when brewed below a full boil.

Step 2: Steep the Green Tea Gently

Place 4 green tea bags (or 4 tsp loose-leaf in a tea infuser) in a heatproof measuring jug or teapot. Pour the hot water over the tea. Let it steep for 2–3 minutes. Taste after 2 minutes; if you prefer a slightly stronger tea, let it go to 3 minutes, but avoid steeping much longer or the tea can become harsh and bitter. Remove the tea bags, or remove the infuser and strain out any loose leaves. Set the tea aside to cool for about 5 minutes so it is hot but not boiling when it meets the fruit.

Step 3: Make the Strawberry-Ginger Mash

While the tea is steeping and slightly cooling, place the chopped strawberries in a large heatproof pitcher (at least 2-quart / 2-liter capacity). Add the grated or very finely minced ginger and 2 tbsp (24 g) of honey or sugar. Using a sturdy muddler, potato masher, or the back of a wooden spoon, mash everything together until the strawberries release their juices and form a chunky, pulpy mixture. This mash is what will flavor and slightly sweeten the tea. If you like a spicier, zingier drink, you can add up to 2 tbsp of ginger.

Step 4: Combine Warm Tea with the Strawberry-Ginger Mixture

Give the strawberry-ginger mash a quick stir, then slowly pour the warm (not boiling hot) green tea over it in the pitcher. Stir well, scraping the bottom to lift any fruit. Add the lemon juice, if using, and stir again. At this point, taste the mixture carefully; it will still be warm and more concentrated than the final drink. Adjust sweetness with the remaining 1 tbsp honey or sugar (or more) if needed. Remember that flavors will mellow once chilled and poured over ice, so it is fine if it tastes slightly stronger and sweeter now.

Step 5: Rapid-Chill with Ice, Then Refrigerate

Add 2 cups (480 ml) ice cubes directly to the pitcher. Stir until much of the ice has melted; this both chills the tea quickly and dilutes it to perfect drinking strength. Once the ice has mostly melted, cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours. This rest in the fridge allows the strawberry and ginger flavors to infuse more deeply into the tea.

Step 6: Strain (Optional) and Adjust to Taste

When the tea is well chilled, stir it and taste again. If you prefer a smooth drink without bits of fruit or ginger, pour the tea through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pitcher, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much flavorful liquid as possible. Discard the solids. If you like a more rustic drink with some strawberry pulp and ginger threads, you can skip straining. Adjust sweetness and lemon juice one last time if needed; cold drinks often need just a touch more sweetness than warm ones.

Step 7: Serve Over Ice with Fresh Garnishes

Fill glasses with fresh ice cubes. Pour the strawberry-ginger iced green tea into each glass. Garnish with a few strawberry slices, a lemon wheel, and a sprig of fresh mint if you have it. Serve immediately while icy-cold. Give each glass a quick stir before sipping to mix the fruit flavors that may have settled slightly.

Pro Tips

• Do not boil the green tea. Water that is too hot and overly long steeping are the main causes of bitter green tea. Aim for 175°F (80°C) and a 2–3 minute steep.
• Grate ginger finely for best flavor. Very fine ginger releases its spicy oils more easily, giving you a bright kick without chewy chunks.
• Sweeten while warm. Honey and sugar dissolve best in warm liquid. Adjust sweetness after chilling only if needed.
• Use ripe, flavorful strawberries. Pale or underripe berries will give you a weaker flavor and less natural sweetness.
• Batch it for a crowd. This recipe doubles easily. Use a larger pitcher and keep extra ice and garnishes on hand for refills.

Variations

• Sparkling Strawberry-Ginger Green Tea: Chill the tea concentrate without adding the 2 cups of ice. When serving, fill each glass halfway with the tea and top off with chilled sparkling water or club soda.
• Strawberry-Ginger Matcha Cooler: Replace the steeped green tea with 2 tsp matcha whisked into 4 cups (960 ml) cool water. Combine with the strawberry-ginger mash and proceed as directed, keeping the mixture well stirred as matcha can settle.
• Herbal Twist: Add a handful of fresh mint leaves to the pitcher with the strawberries and ginger, lightly bruising them as you mash for a cooling herbal note.

Storage & Make-Ahead

Store the strawberry-ginger iced green tea in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you include a lot of pulp and do not strain it, the texture will be best within 24–36 hours, as the fruit can soften further over time. For longer storage or the clearest drink, strain out the solids after chilling and keep only the infused tea. Stir well before pouring, since natural separation can occur. To make ahead for a gathering, you can prepare the tea base up to a day in advance, then add fresh garnishes (strawberries, lemon slices, mint) just before serving for the brightest look and flavor. Do not store with ice in the pitcher; instead, keep the tea chilled and add ice directly to glasses so it does not dilute too much.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values per serving (1 of 4), prepared with 3 tbsp (36 g) honey and without optional garnishes: about 45 calories; 0 g fat; 11 g carbohydrates; 10 g sugars; 0.5 g fiber; 0.5 g protein. Sodium is negligible. Caffeine will vary by tea brand and steep time, but expect roughly 25–30 mg caffeine per serving from the green tea.