Iced yellow pear, Meyer lemon and toasted green tea drink with basil
An original, elegant drink made with blended yellow pear, a light Meyer lemon syrup, and chilled toasted green tea. Basil adds a fresh, rounded aroma, making it ideal served very cold on warm days or as a special non-alcoholic beverage.
Ingredients
- 360 g ripe yellow pear (without core, diced)
- 750 ml water (divided)
- 8 g toasted green tea (tipo hojicha verde or similar)
- 120 g Meyer lemon (juice and a poco of zest fina)
- 70 g sugar (for the jarabe)
- 10 g fresh basil (more leaves extra for decorar if desired)
- 1 g fine salt (solo a pinch)
- 400 g ice (for enfriar and servir)
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. Add 250 ml water, sugar, and the finely grated zest of 1/2 Meyer lemon to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it just reaches a boil, about 212°F/100°C, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- 2
2. Meanwhile, heat 500 ml water to 176°F/80°C. Add the toasted green tea, steep for 3 minutes, and strain immediately to prevent bitterness. Let the tea cool completely.
- 3
3. Place the yellow pear, Meyer lemon juice, 8 basil leaves, the pinch of salt, and the slightly cooled syrup in a blender. Blend until very smooth.
- 4
4. Pour the blended puree through a fine sieve into a large pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the thicker pulp if you prefer a lighter drink.
- 5
5. Add the chilled toasted green tea infusion to the pitcher and stir well. Taste and adjust with a little more water if you want a lighter flavor.
- 6
6. Add half of the ice to the pitcher and stir for 20 to 30 seconds to chill the drink quickly.
- 7
7. Serve in 4 glasses with the remaining ice and garnish with the reserved basil leaves. Serve immediately while very cold.
Chef tips
For a more fragrant flavor, gently bruise the basil before blending. If you want a clearer texture, strain the drink twice. Use very ripe pears for better natural sweetness and body.
Substitutions
You can replace Meyer lemon with regular lemon plus a small strip of orange peel. Basil can be swapped for mint for a more herbal profile. The sugar may be replaced with the same amount of cane sugar.
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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