The Story
Jasmine tea is the quiet showoff of the tea shelf — all blossom, no bitterness, if you brew it gentle and cool it fully. Lengthened with lemon and bubbles, it becomes the lightest drink on this menu: the one you hand to the friend who says they don't want anything, and then watches them finish.
- The Glass
- Tall glass
- The Garnish
- A lemon wheel and, if you have them, a few jasmine blossoms
- The Occasion
- Slow brunches, afternoon guests
- Serve It With
- Sesame crisps
- If You’re Pouring
- 1½ oz gin — florals on florals, in a good way
The Recipe
Makes 1 glass
- jasmine green tea, chilled3
- honey syrup½
- fresh lemon juice½
- sparkling water3
- ice
- 1
The Gentle Brew
Water just under a boil — steaming, not rolling — poured over the jasmine for exactly three minutes, covered. The kettle is where this drink is won or lost.
Scorched jasmine is ruined jasmine. Patience at the kettle.
- 2
Chill It Down
Strain and refrigerate until fully cold — no cheating. Warm tea shocks the bubbles flat on contact.
Warm tea shocks the bubbles flat on contact.
- 3
Build over Ice
Tea, honey syrup, and lemon juice over a full glass of ice.
Pale jade, barely-there sweetness.
- 4
Top and Garnish
Sparkling water, a lemon wheel, jasmine blossoms if you have them.
The lightest drink on the menu — serve it like it matters.
The Method
The Gentle Brew
Steeping is extracting flavor with water and time — teas, flowers, and botanicals giving up their aromatics to hot water in minutes, or to cold water overnight. The oldest technique on this list, and the one with a timer.
Three minutes in water just under a boil — jasmine scorched is jasmine ruined. Cool it fully before it meets ice. Delicate tea, delicate handling, and the blossom survives all the way into the glass.
New to The Steep & The Brew? Take the full classSet the Stage
The Other Fifty Percent
Half the drink is the recipe. The other half is how it arrives — the glass, the light, the garnish doing its little job.
The Scene
The palest drink on the menu — give it the thinnest glass, the clearest ice, and the least clutter on the tray. Restraint is the styling.
The Garnish, Actually
One lemon wheel, notched on the rim, and nothing else. If you reach for a second garnish, stop.
What Stages It
Thin highball glasses
The barely-there glass
Clear ice molds
Clarity is the luxury here
A citrus zester
For the day you want a twist instead
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From the Shop
What This Drink Wants
Jasmine green tea (loose)
Loose leaf keeps the blossom intact
ShopElectric kettle
Temperature control is the whole trick with green tea
ShopTall glasses
This one deserves height
ShopSome links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only link what we'd hand you ourselves.
From the Small Bites
Set Something Beside It
From Your Glasses
Made It? Show Us the Glass.
The best thing a recipe site can hang on its wall is proof someone poured from it. Snap your glass, leave a note if you like — it appears here after a quick look.
By sharing, you confirm the photo is yours and you're happy for it to hang here with your name and note.
Next on the Menu
№ 02 — Cardamom Pear Shrub
The Weekly Pour