Isn't it time you jazzed up your tea and gave it a little kick? Just like you can steep tea in water and make a beverage, you can infuse it in vodka and make something even better. So, if you'd like to take tea time to a whole new level, check out our primer on how to make tea-infused vodka and turn afternoon tea time into party time.
Ingredients & Supplies
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf or 3 tea bags of preferred tea flavor such as Earl Grey
- 750mL vodka
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large clean bottle or jar, add the loose-leaf tea or tea bags and vodka.
- Securely close the bottles or jars and give the mix a gentle swirl.
- Store the containers in a cool, dark place for approximately 3 to 4 days, giving the container a swirl every day.
- At the end of the third or fourth day, sample the infusion by pouring a splash into a glass. If you want more flavor, allow the tea infusion to steep longer.
- If there's enough flavor, carefully remove the tea bags, if used, and discard them.
- Funnel the infused vodka into the second clean bottle, filtering with the cheesecloth to remove any tea solids.
- Carefully seal. The tea-infused vodka can be enjoyed right away.
You can store unused infused vodka in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for approximately one to two years before the quality diminishes. Do take care to dispose of it when the flavor starts to fade or tastes "off."
Variations of Tea-Infused Vodka
You can add floral and berry touches to your tea or add a little heat and some umami flavors — whatever makes you dream of infusions.
- Make your tea infusion a bit sweeter by including a quarter to a half cup of honey or maple syrup.
- Add a floral touch by using three to four sprigs of fresh lavender or a tablespoon of dried lavender buds.
- Give your tea infusion a touch of citrus by adding three whole sliced lemons or limes. You can also use a whole, sliced orange.
- Add a tablespoon or two of coarsely chopped dark chocolate or whole coffee beans for darker teas, such as Earl Grey, black, or breakfast teas.
- If using fruit-forward or citrus teas, you can also add a half or full cup of berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries cut in half or hulled and sliced strawberries.
Tea-Infused Vodka Cocktails
Whether you infuse your vodka with traditional, citrus, herbal, or fruit-flavored tea, you can bet there's a tea cocktail that'll bring it to life.
Nutty Hot Toddy
Add some earthy nut flavors and skip ahead for needing to brew tea by using tea vodka in this hot toddy.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tea-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce honey
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2-3 dashes walnut bitters
- Hot water to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling it with hot water.
- After the mug is warm to the touch, pour out the water.
- In the warm mug, add tea vodka, honey, lemon juice, and bitters.
- Top off with hot water.
- Carefully stir to mix.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Adult Chai
Kick your chai tea to a new level by layering your tea-infused vodka with classic chai flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tea-infused vodka
- ¼ ounce cream, to taste
- 4 ounces prepared chai tea
- Ground cinnamon and star anise for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After the mug is warm to the touch, pour out the water.
- In the warm mug, add tea vodka, cream, and prepared chai tea.
- Carefully stir to mix.
- Garnish with ground cinnamon and star anise.
Iced Earl Grey
Cool off with a little boosted tea beverage in the afternoon. No one needs to know that the tea is also vodka.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Earl Grey tea-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add tea vodka, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Afternoon Break
Kick your feet up and enjoy a berry-flavored tea infusion highball. Muddling fresh fruit brightens up the flavors even more.
Ingredients
- 2-3 hulled fresh strawberries
- 2 ounces tea-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Strawberry slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, thoroughly muddle the strawberries with simple syrup.
- Add ice, tea vodka, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with a strawberry slice.
Mixers for Tea Vodka
Sometimes, you don't want anything fancy or over the top, like tea itself, and these mixers will do the job.
- Club soda
- Flavored club soda, such as lemon, lime, orange, berry, coconut, or vanilla
- Tonic water
- Cherry juice
- Apple cider
- Elderflower liqueur
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Rum
- Simple syrup
- Lemon-lime soda
- Lemonade
- Limeade
- Lemon juice
- Coconut water
- Heavy cream
- Peach nectar
- Orange liqueur
Taking Time to Enjoy Tea-Infused Vodka
Whether you're someone who enjoys starting their day with tea or turns to a cup in the afternoon or times of solace, tea-infused vodka picks up the slack where a regular cup of tea leaves off. With such a wide range of flavors, you can dream big for your infusion.
