A peach green tea highball with jasmine tea, lemon, honey, and soda. Get the recipe for a light summer mocktail or cocktail.
This peach green tea highball uses chilled jasmine green tea, ripe peach, lemon, honey, and sparkling water. It makes two light summer drinks with gentle caffeine and a cocktail option if you want to add gin or whiskey.
Tea-based drinks are useful because they bring tannin. That dry edge gives a mocktail grip, especially when the rest of the glass is fruit and fizz.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 40 minutes |
| Servings | 2 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Key ingredient | Jasmine green tea |
| Best for | Afternoon drinks, brunch, low-ABV cocktails |
| Flavor profile | Peachy, floral, lightly tannic |
| Caffeine | Yes, from green tea |
Why You Will Love This
It tastes like peach iced tea grew up a little. The green tea keeps the sweetness in check, lemon tightens the edges, and sparkling water makes it feel like a highball instead of a picnic jug.
Use a ripe peach. That is the whole drink.
The Story Behind It
Highballs are trending because they are simple, cold, and easy to drink slowly. Tea highballs fit the same mood but bring more flavor than plain soda water.
Green tea also gives you a clean botanical base. It plays well with peach because the tannin cuts through the fruit.
What You Will Need
- 1 green tea bag or 1 teaspoon loose jasmine green tea
- 1 cup hot water at 175°F
- 1 ripe peach, sliced
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce honey syrup
- 6 ounces chilled sparkling water
- Ice
Honey syrup is equal parts honey and hot water stirred until smooth.
How to Make It
- Steep green tea in 1 cup water at 175°F for 2 minutes.
- Remove the tea and chill completely.
- Add half the peach slices, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a shaker.
- Muddle until the peach releases juice.
- Add chilled green tea and ice.
- Shake for 8 seconds.
- Strain into two ice-filled highball glasses.
- Top each glass with 3 ounces sparkling water.
Herbalist Notes
Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid associated with calm focus. It also contains caffeine, usually far less than coffee but enough to matter if you drink it late.
Jasmine green tea adds floral aroma without perfume. If you only have plain sencha, use it.
Make It Your Own
For a cocktail, add 1 ounce gin for a floral version or 1 ounce bourbon for a peach tea highball. For a no-caffeine version, use cold-brewed peach rooibos instead of green tea.
A few basil leaves are good here, but keep them beside the glass or shake and strain them out.
Before You Start
Do not steep green tea with boiling water. Around 175°F and 2 minutes is the safe zone for a clean taste.
If your peach is underripe, use 2 tablespoons peach nectar and reduce the honey syrup by half.
Common Questions
Can I use bottled iced green tea?
Yes, if it is unsweetened. Sweetened bottled tea usually needs less honey syrup and more lemon.
Is this a mocktail or a cocktail?
The base recipe is a mocktail. Add 1 ounce gin, bourbon, or Japanese whisky per serving if you want the cocktail version.
How much caffeine is in it?
It depends on the tea, but one serving usually has less caffeine than a small cup of coffee. Use rooibos if you need it caffeine-free.
Can I batch this for a party?
Batch the tea, muddled peach, lemon, and honey up to 12 hours ahead. Add sparkling water after pouring so the drink stays fizzy.
Camille writes about botanical drinks, herbal cocktails, and the old plant wisdom that makes them work. Most days you'll find her in the garden or the kitchen, turning herbs into something worth sipping.
