This refreshing Gin and Tea Cocktail recipe is quick and easy to make and has a unique, soothing flavor that you're going to love! With Steep Echo's flavorful herbal tea, the classic gimlet cocktail gets a refreshing twist!
I was sent Steep Echo teas and this cocktail recipe to create this refreshing gin drink recipe post.
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Why this recipe works
Using a strong batch of steeped tea is a tasty way to add a variety of flavors to cocktails without adding extra ingredients.
While you do have to plan ahead to brew the herbal tea and then let it cool, making the actual cocktail takes just a few minutes.
Gin has a very herbal flavor, thanks to juniper berries. It's similar to pine and is crisp and clean. It pairs really well with herbal tea, especially this blend from Steep Echo.
Related post: Hot Green Tea with Vodka
With peppermint and echinacea, as well as other savory herbs, this tea is refreshing, full of flavor and makes a tasty tea and gin cocktail that resembles a gimlet. I'm sure my Lavender Tea would be a tasty substitution too.
If cocktails with tea sound good to you, add this recipe to your list of must-make easy cocktails.
Ingredient notes
Steep Echo's Bloom tea blend really makes this gin and tea cocktail special. With its immune-boosting blend of natural herbs and savory botanicals, it provides a unique flavor that you are going to crave.
You can substitute another herbal tea if you don't have Steep Echo.
Along with the tea (which has been brewed extra strong), you'll need your favorite gin, some fresh lime juice, and a little bit of sweetener.
In a pinch, you could substitute the lime juice and sweetener with Rose's Lime Juice. But I much prefer the punch of the fresh lime.
I prefer to use a store-bought simple syrup to keep things super easy. Or you can make your own quick cheater simple syrup for one cocktail or regular Simple Syrup.
I also added some fresh thyme leaves to the gin and tea since I will look for any excuse to add fresh herbs to a drink. It's SO good! It would also be tasty with fresh basil, rosemary or mint.
How to make a Gin and Tea Cocktail
1. Brew strong tea
Plan ahead by steeping the strong herbal tea. Follow the directions on the tea you use but use twice as much tea per the amount of water suggested. And let it steep for about an hour.
This can be made the day before as it's best if the tea is chilled for this gin with tea gimlet.
2. Add gin to a shaker
To a cocktail shaker, add 2 ounces of gin. If you don't have a cocktail shaker you can use a mason jar with a lid!
3. Add the tea
Add 2 ounces of the extra strong Bloom tea.
If you have any left you can drink it over ice as an iced tea. Maybe even shake some up with basil.
4. Add lime juice and sweetener (if using)
Add ½ ounce of fresh lime juice.
Add the simple syrup. Again, do this to taste. I always start on the smaller side and only add enough to get the flavors to taste balanced without being too sweet.
5. Add thyme leaves
Add fresh thyme leaves from a sprig or two.
The easiest way to remove the leaves from the stem is to hold the stem so the leaves are pointing up (attached to the stalk at the bottom with the leaves pointing upwards).
Then hold the stalk, near the top with your left hand, and pinch the stalk between your thumb and pointer finger of the other hand. Slide your right hand down the stalk, striping off the leaves as you go.
That sounds much harder than it is. If you just can't figure that out, you can absolutely drop the whole stalk in as the cocktail shaker will strain it out when you pour into your cocktail glass.
To get the most thyme flavor, use a muddler to gently bruise the leaves so the oils mix with the other liquids in the cocktail shaker.
6. Add ice
I like to add the ice at the very end so that it has the least possible chance to melt and dilute the tea and gin cocktail ingredients.
7. Shake well
Shake it really well. The outside of your cocktail shaker will get nice and frosty.
8. Serve
Strain the gin and tea into a short glass over fresh ice. Add another sprig or two of thyme as a garnish.
The first sip will really bring you to attention. The Bloom blend, with peppermint, echinacea root, licorice root, rosemary and cranberry are not flavors you typically find in cocktails.
But this Herbal Tea Cocktail is SO refreshing. That herbal flavor is sensational and the fresh lime complements everything perfectly.
Steep Echo teas
If you are a tea lover, I encourage you to check out the Steep Echo teas!
Steep Echo teas are made from olive leaves that are sourced from the family-owned, certified organic Bel Lavoro Orchard based in Santa Barbara. They are organic and hand-harvested.
Mixed with other natural botanicals, the nutrient compounds promote optimal cardiovascular health and help to boost your immune system.
Tips and tricks
- You can substitute green tea or black tea if you don't have herbal tea available.
- You can use honey in place of simple syrup if you don't have any. It's a natural pairing for tea.
- Although I like gin the best, you could use vodka instead.
- This recipe is easy to make a larger batch of once you make the strong tea.
Gin works well in tea cocktails because they both have amazing herbal flavors.
Gin is a distilled liquor, with heavy notes of juniper berry, that is often used in simple cocktails.
You can make a tea simple syrup, which will sweeten the cocktail at the same time. Or you can make a tea-infused gin with the loose tea leaves to flavor the gin itself. Another way is to make more of a concentrate, as we have in this recipe, to get that strong tea flavor. Or you can just use the tea as normally brewed for a subtle tea flavor.
Steep Echo teas are made from olive leaves and are mixed with a variety of flavors to make 5 refreshing and well-thought-out blends. The teas are herbal, caffeine-free and each has a unique flavor profile that has been expertly created for the family. The smells are intoxicating!
My friend Sarah Mock, of Savoring the Good, suggests Beefeater for a ‘regular gin’ and Tanqueray for a gin with a little more of a cucumber note in the botanicals. Check out her Gimlet Cocktail Recipe to see how she uses gin in a super simple recipe.
This easy Gin and Tea cocktail recipe is easy to make and full of flavor that you will crave!
More easy cocktail recipes
- Blackberry Gin and Tonic
- Blood Orange Cocktail with Gin and Sorbet
- Sangria Recipe with Iced Tea
- Iced Tea Vodka Cocktail
- Rosé Lemonade
- Best Gin for Gin and Tonic
- St Germain Gin Fizz
Gin and Tea Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz. gin
- 2 oz. extra-strong Steep Echo Bloom tea
- ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves plus more for garnish
Instructions
To brew strong tea
- Pour 6 ounces of freshly boiled water over 2 tea sachets and allow to steep for at least 10 minutes to an hour. Let cool completely before using in cocktail.
To make the Tea Gimlet
- Put gin, tea, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and fresh thyme leaves in a cocktail shaker.
- Gently muddle for more thyme flavor.
- Add ice then shake well.
- Strain the aromatic cocktail into a short cocktail glass over fresh ice and garnish with a spring or two of fresh thyme.
Notes
- Add the ice to the cocktail shaker at the very end to dilute the other ingredients as little as possible.
- Substitute green tea or black tea if you don't have herbal tea available.
- Use honey in place of simple syrup if you don't have any. It's a natural pairing for tea.
- Although I like gin the best, you could use vodka instead.
- This recipe is easy to make a larger batch of once you make the strong tea.
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