Serves a Crowd
Thyme Tea Soda
Popular on Food52
64 Reviews
Brenda
May 28, 2018
Thank you for a really flavorful tea recipe. I used half Lapsang Souchong and half loose green tea from China. Thought I had opened black but it was green, worked well anyway. The Lapsang tastes fresh and savory with the thyme.
Caryl
May 29, 2016
This is lovely! I'm always looking for alcohol free cocktails so I nixed the bourbon and added just a splash of lemonade. I too used Earl Grey. Thanks!
Susan L.
March 7, 2016
I used Earl Grey as well and the results were incredible! I was looking for something special to serve as a non alcoholic option ( many people driving small children). This was like something from a top London hotel bar. I also used citron press instead of the lemon juce as that is what I had on-hand and fresh thyme. Taking care to float it in the order given over clear ice blocks in a tall glass made it look very much like the photo. Will certainly serve this again.
cookinalong
June 1, 2015
Thank you for posting this! It's inspired! Bourbon has been waiting for this. A match made in heaven.
PhilB
May 18, 2015
Made this today! Absolutely delicious! Used earl grey instead of Darjeeling and I loved the flavour!
Chef L.
April 30, 2015
This sounds great! Mat offer it as an alternative for the Mint julep on Derby Day.
hardlikearmour
April 23, 2015
Thank you all! This makes me very happy because it's one of my all-time favorites.
gingerroot
April 23, 2015
Yay, hla!! Well deserved congrats on being a finalist. This is such a fabulous, refreshing drink.
Panfusine
April 23, 2015
This sounds absolutely DIVINE!.. definitely a WINNER in my books.
congrats on the finalist pick!
congrats on the finalist pick!
cookinginvictoria
April 23, 2015
Congratulations, Sara! How did I miss this? Love the idea of a thyme infused iced tea soda. On the must try list for those warm PNW summer days that are hopefully just around the corner. :)
hardlikearmour
April 23, 2015
Fingers crossed! We were up to 80ish on Monday, but now we're back down to the low 60s.
ChefJune
April 23, 2015
mmm what an interesting twist on iced tea!
hardlikearmour
April 23, 2015
Thanks. I can only take credit with turning the combo into a soda. When I tried the iced tea at Stumptown a few summers back I was hooked at first sip.
Alexandra V.
April 23, 2015
Sounds great I have never seen this at Stumptown (hooked on the nitro cold brew), but looks like I can make it at home....and add some Bulleit!
hardlikearmour
April 23, 2015
I'm not sure they still have it at Stumptown -- it was/is only a summer thing. I have to avoid their cold brew with milk combos as they are insanely addictive (the winter spice one especially).
susan G.
April 23, 2015
This has been a must-have for the summer, since (my comment below says) 4 years ago. A classic here, and deserves our votes!
hardlikearmour
April 23, 2015
I remember you being an early fan :-) I also like to keep it on hand during the summer -- so good after doing yard work on a hot day.
aargersi
April 23, 2015
YAY SARA! Congrats! This needs to go on our summer poolside roster for sure!!!
hardlikearmour
April 23, 2015
Thank you! definitely would be great pool-side during your 100+ heat waves.
lapadia
February 18, 2013
Love everything about this refreshing soda, love the name, and btw, I thought I had commented before!
hardlikearmour
February 20, 2013
Thanks, lapadia! I like to make a good-sized batch of the syrup, and add the lemon juice right to it so it keeps longer in the fridge. Then I can have afternoon tea thyme, whenever the urge strikes!
EmilyC
July 27, 2012
Just tried these...what a nice, unique, refreshing drink! I'm not big on sweet tea but in soda form, I realize I'm a big fan! Love how concentrated the syrup is, which means I can drink these all week long.
hardlikearmour
July 27, 2012
Thank you, Emily! I'm not a big sweet tea fan either, as I don't find sweet beverages to be refreshing. I think the combination of tannin from the tea, herbal notes from the thyme, tang from the lemon juice is what makes this refreshing and yummy to me.
NanP
June 9, 2011
oops sorry for the over commenting! I didn't see that any of them were successful in getting posted
NanP
June 9, 2011
I made it with eight sprigs of fresh thyme instead of the dried. It's ridiculous! I plan to experiment with another batch substituting 3 small sprigs of dried sage for the thyme. I'll let you know how that turns out. Thanks so much for posting this recipe!
hardlikearmour
June 10, 2011
I made a batch and a half using 1/4 oz fresh thyme - a handful of sprigs and personally would've liked more thyme flavor (but I like a prominent thyme flavor for this - something about the tannin from the tea, the herbal thyme, the tart lemon, and the bubbles makes this super refreshing for me.)
NanP
June 9, 2011
I made this with eight sprigs of thyme instead of the dried. Love it! I'm going to experiment with another batch substituting three small sprigs of dried sage that I get from a middle eastern market. I'm pretty sure that will be sufficient, sage can get a little overwhelming! My other thought is to try some of the tea/thyme syrup with some home infused pineapple vodka and soda for a summer cocktail. Thanks so much for posting this recipe!
NanP
June 9, 2011
I made the syrup with about 10 sprigs of fresh thyme instead of the dried. Loved it, but maybe eight sprigs would be enough. I plan to experiment with another batch with three sprigs of dried sage. I think that might be sufficient - sage can be a bit overpowering!
hardlikearmour
June 9, 2011
Hi, NanP! Do report back if you make it with the fresh thyme, I'd love to edit the recipe for use with either dried or fresh! I have fresh sage in the garden so I will give it a go sometime!
NanP
June 7, 2011
I just saw this and am making it now with some fresh thyme. I can't wait to have it this afternoon! btw - this would also be wonderful with sage. I frequently brew black tea with dried sage leaves and a little sugar, just never thought about making it into a syrup
susan G.
June 4, 2011
I made it! I loved it! But the husband found it "a little medicinal" so 1/2 the thyme when I make another batch. I guess I like medicinal. And I did drop the sugar a bit, to 1 cup. So when is the Food52 Cafe opening? We could be fabulous with drinks alone, and then there's the rest of the menu...
hardlikearmour
June 4, 2011
Awesome! I am a big fan of adapting recipes to suit your (or your husband's taste!) Thanks for trying this.
susan G.
June 19, 2011
A bit of the spent tea+thyme relocated to a 2nd brewing of Gunpowder green tea, hot -- mmmm! Opens me up to take more chances with my teas.
gingerroot
June 3, 2011
This sounds ridiculously good! I have a huge bunch of thyme from my CSA plus lemon thyme in my garden - I'm definitely making this soon.
gingerroot
June 4, 2011
I made this today and it was so good! Really refreshing. I'm so glad I have more syrup left to enjoy more over the weekend! Thanks for a great recipe!
Panfusine
June 2, 2011
Wow.. sounds delish.. love the delicately spicy bite of thyme!
hardlikearmour
June 2, 2011
Thyme really goes well with black tea for some reason. You should add some next time you brew a pot!
inpatskitchen
June 2, 2011
This sounds wonderful!!
hardlikearmour
June 2, 2011
Thanks, ipk! I've loved the iced tea since the first sip I tried, and I'm really grooving on this carbonated version.
boulangere
June 2, 2011
Wow! The scent is wafting right out of your narrative. You could probably spin this into a sorbet, too.
hardlikearmour
June 2, 2011
I was just thinking it would take nicely to a shot of bourbon, but sorbet never even crossed my mind.
gingerroot
June 3, 2011
I say, make sorbet and add a touch of bourbon at the end. But that's just me. : )
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