K – Iced Refresher Recipe

Make simple lemon syrup

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the lemon zest. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture barely simmers; do not boil vigorously. Simmer gently for 2 minutes to extract zest oils. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain out zest and cool. Yields about 1 cup of syrup.

Brew strong green tea

Place 3 green tea bags in a heatproof container. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the bags and steep for 4 minutes for a strong but not bitter concentrate. Remove tea bags, squeezing gently to extract liquid. Chill the tea in refrigerator until cold (about 20–30 minutes) or place in an ice bath to cool faster.

Prepare fruit purée

In a small blender or using a muddler, purée or muddle the blackberries with the fresh orange juice and lemon juice until mostly smooth. If using a blender, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl to remove seeds for a smooth drink (press with a spoon). You should get roughly 1/4 to 1/3 cup of bright fruit purée.

Assemble drink

Fill a serving glass with 1 cup ice. Add 1.5 tablespoons of the cooled lemon simple syrup (adjust to taste). Pour in 2.5 ounces (about 3 tbsp) of chilled green tea concentrate. Add 2 tablespoons of the blackberry-orange purée. Stir gently to combine. Top with 8 oz cold sparkling water and stir once to integrate. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding an extra 1/2 tablespoon syrup if desired.

Lightly clap the mint leaves between your palms to release the aroma and tuck them into the top of the drink. Float a lemon wheel on the surface or clip to the rim. Serve immediately with a straw.