The rising demand for non-alcoholic drink alternatives has created a wonderful opportunity for the inclusion of tea. One such trend is the increasing popularity of hopped tea- teas that include the aromatic hop traits often found in IPAs and other beers. Canned versions of hopped tea are already available (with varying degrees of hop intensity), but nothing beats the cool, clean character of freshly cold-steeped tea with the right amount of hops.

Our friends at Yakima Valley Hops sent us some some Citra hops to experiment with. Citra hops, as the name suggests, is a classic and best-selling hops due to the heady citrus character it imparts. IPAs owe a big debt of gratitude to citra for their rise in popularity.

Firsd Tea’s OCB014 Organic Yingde gives a brisk, lightly puckery bite while still delivering a floral and raisin-like sweetness. It provides the perfect combination for a tall glass of summertime iced tea while relaxing on the back porch.

BY THE GLASS

3* grams of Firsd Tea OCB014 Organic Yingde

0.5* grams Citra hops pellets from Yakima Valley Hops

6* oz cool (35-45 F) water

Steep time: 45 – 60 minutes

With a fine paper or mesh strainer, pour liquid off the spent leaves and hops. Serve thoroughly chilled, preferably without ice (as it will dilute the flavor and aromatics).

* Increase to 15 grams of dry tea leaf per carafe (750 mL) of water with the same ratio of hops and steep time

NOTES

The beauty of combining citra with organic yingde black tea comes out especially when the hops’ bitterness is just about to dominate the aftertaste. It is at that moment that the raisiny sweetness of the yingde black kicks in and smooths the aftertaste. The result is a refreshingly quaffable beer-like experience without the potential guilt of overindulgence.

‍