Camilluccia Recipe

Steep the tea

Bring 4 cups of water to a near boil (about 200°F / 93°C). Place 4 tsp loose black tea (or 4 tea bags) into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the hot water over the tea and steep for 4–5 minutes for a robust flavor, or 3 minutes for a lighter brew.

After steeping, remove tea leaves or tea bags and discard. Allow the brewed tea to cool at room temperature for 10–15 minutes.

Prepare mango puree

If you do not have prepared mango puree, peel and dice one medium ripe mango and blend until smooth, measuring roughly 1 cup. If the puree is very thick, proceed to thin it in the next step.

Combine and warm

In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup mango puree, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water. Warm over low heat, stirring gently, just until the honey dissolves and the mixture is homogenous — do not boil (about 3–5 minutes). This helps the honey incorporate evenly and slightly mellows raw mango acidity.

Taste and adjust: if the syrup is too sweet, add up to 1 tablespoon more lemon juice; if too thick, add up to 1/4 cup more water. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature (about 10 minutes).

If you prefer a smoother syrup, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl to remove any fibrous mango bits, pressing solids to extract as much liquid as possible.

Combine tea and syrup

Into the pitcher with the cooled brewed tea, add 2 cups cold water to adjust strength, then stir in the cooled mango-honey syrup. Start by adding about 3/4 cup of the syrup, stir, then taste and add more (up to all) depending on preferred sweetness and mango intensity. Typical finished volume should serve 3–4 people.

Chill and serve

Fill glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup ice per glass or as desired). Pour the Camilluccia iced tea over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice, a few mango cubes or a slice, and a sprig of mint if using. Serve immediately.

Storage: store any leftover tea and syrup separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Re-stir before serving; add ice and lemon fresh when serving.