Name: Little Hens Majorelle Mint Recipe
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 4 cups water; 2 tsp high-quality green tea leaves (sencha or gunpowder); 1 cups fresh Moroccan or spearmint leaves (packed, whole leaves); 1 tbs fresh orange zest; 1 tsp fresh lemon zest; 2 tbs fresh orange juice; 1 tsp fresh lemon juice; 1 tsp granulated sugar or simple syrup; 4 to taste fresh mint sprigs; 4 slices thin orange or lemon slice (for garnish); 2 cups ice (if serving iced)

Method

Tea Base

Heat Water

Bring 4 cups of fresh cold water to a gentle boil, then remove from heat and let cool for about 2 minutes (target temperature ~175–185°F / 80–85°C) to avoid burning green tea leaves.

Steep Green Tea

Place 2 tsp green tea leaves in a teapot or heatproof pitcher. Pour the slightly cooled water over the leaves. Cover and steep for 2 to 3 minutes for a clean, bright infusion. Do not over-steep to prevent bitterness.

Strain

Strain the brewed green tea into a clean container to remove leaves and set aside. Keep the tea hot if serving warm, or let it cool to room temperature for iced service.

Mint & Citrus

Prepare Mint

Rinse 1 cup packed fresh mint leaves and lightly bruise them by clapping between your hands or gently crushing with the back of a spoon to release essential oils. Reserve a few whole sprigs for garnish.

Combine with Zest and Juice

Add the bruised mint leaves, 1 tbsp orange zest, 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp orange juice and 1 tsp lemon juice to the warm (or cooled) brewed tea. If you prefer a stronger mint flavor, gently muddle the mint in the tea with a wooden spoon or a muddler for 10–15 seconds.

Infuse

Cover and let the mint-citrus mixture steep with the tea for 5 to 10 minutes if warm, or refrigerate for 20–30 minutes if making iced tea, tasting occasionally until desired intensity is reached.

Strain Out Solids

Strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve to remove mint leaves and zest. Press lightly on the solids to extract remaining flavored liquid but avoid over-pressing which can add bitterness from pith or leaves.

Sweetener (optional)

If using sugar, stir 1 tsp granulated sugar into the warm tea until dissolved. If using simple syrup, add 1 tsp and stir. Adjust sweetness to taste (start small — Moroccan-style mint tea is often lightly sweet).

To Serve

Serve Warm

Pour the infused tea into warmed cups. Garnish each cup with a fresh mint sprig and a thin slice of orange or lemon. Serve immediately.

Serve Iced

To serve iced, fill glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup per glass), pour chilled tea over ice, and garnish with mint sprigs and citrus slices. Optionally add extra fresh mint or a splash of orange juice to each glass.