Mandarin, Cucumber and White Tea Agua Fresca with Lemon Basil
An original, refreshing drink that combines juicy mandarin, crisp cucumber, and delicate white tea, scented with lemon basil and a touch of lemon. Light, aromatic, and perfect served very cold.
Ingredients
- 900 ml water (divided)
- 8 g white tea (a granel or 4 bolsitas)
- 360 g mandarins (peladas, in wedges and without semillas)
- 180 g cucumber (pelado and sliced)
- 45 ml honey or agave syrup (ajustar to taste)
- 30 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 8 g lemon basil (leaves fresh, more extra for decorar)
- 300 g ice (for licuar and servir)
- 1 g fine salt (optional, for realzar the sabor)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
No declared allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Heat 400 ml water in a small saucepan until very hot but not boiling, about 175°F/80°C. Remove from the heat, add the white tea, and steep for 4 minutes. Strain and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- 2
2. In a blender, combine the mandarin segments, cucumber, honey or agave syrup, lemon juice, lemon basil, optional fine salt, and 150 g ice. Blend until smooth.
- 3
3. Pour the blended mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher to remove the thicker pulp. Press gently to extract the liquid without forcing too many solids through.
- 4
4. Add the cooled white tea infusion and the remaining 500 ml water to the pitcher. Stir well to combine.
- 5
5. Add the rest of the ice to the pitcher or divide the ice among 4 glasses. Serve the drink very cold and garnish with extra lemon basil leaves.
- 6
6. For an even colder drink, chill it for 15 to 20 minutes before serving, ideally at 39°F/4°C.
Chef tips
For a stronger herbal aroma, lightly bruise the lemon basil before blending. If your mandarins are very sweet, reduce the honey or agave.
Substitutions
You can use clementines instead of mandarins and regular basil plus a little extra lemon zest instead of lemon basil. For a vegan version, use agave syrup.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageVictorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
Illustrative imageTeakhaus Teak Cutting Board
Stable base for chopping
- Stable surface for chopping
- Gentle on your knife edge
- Hand-wash and let it dry
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