Tea Thyme Soda
Author Notes: This recipe is a riff on a delightful iced tea that gets served in the summer at both Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant and Stumptown Coffee in Portland, Oregon. At its essence, it's just black tea with thyme, but it's surprisingly delicious and refreshing. The added bourbon makes it an easy-to-drink cocktail (maybe too easy—don't say I didn't warn you). —hardlikearmour
Food52 Review: WHO: Hardlikearmour is a veterinarian by day, iced tea aficionado by night.
WHAT: A bubbly, herbaceous iced tea (or cocktail) with Northwest roots.
HOW: Allow tea bags, thyme, and cinnamon to steep in a simple syrup, then combine it with lemon juice in a highball glass. Top with a splash of soda—and some bourbon if it's one of those days.
WHY WE LOVE IT: If a tea can be described as alluring, this would be it. The thyme garnish drew us in, and the refreshing clean citrus finish kept us sipping. While it's delicious on its own, a splash of bourbon adds a whole other layer of attraction. —mitschlag
Makes 10 drinks
For the soda:
-
Ice, as needed
-
2
tablespoons Tea Thyme syrup (see recipe below)
-
1
tablespoon lemon juice
-
1 1/2
ounces bourbon (optional)
-
Seltzer, cold, as needed
-
Sprig of fresh thyme or lemon wedge, for garnish
- Fill a 12-ounce glass halfway with ice. Add the syrup, lemon juice, and bourbon (if using it). Top the rest of the glass off with seltzer and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a sprig of thyme or lemon wedge. Repeat with the remaining syrup, or save the rest for another day. Enjoy!
- Note: Feel free to play with the proportions of the lemon and syrup. I find this recipe to yield a refreshing balance of tart and sweet the way it is written, but you may prefer otherwise.
For the syrup:
-
8
ounces (1 cup) water
-
8
ounces (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) sugar
-
6
bags black tea (I used Darjeeling)
-
1 to 2
teaspoons dried thyme or a handful of fresh thyme sprigs (about 1/4 ounce)
-
One
1/2 inch stick cinnamon, broken (optional)
- Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for 30 to 60 seconds, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Add in the tea bags to steep, thyme, and cinnamon (if using), then cover. Allow to come to room temperature. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a glass jar, squeezing tea bags to extract as much syrup as possible. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Your Best Recipe for Daytime Drinks Contest Winner!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe with Tea
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Poolside Cocktail
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Soda Fountain Recipe
More Great Recipes:
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Showing out of comments
almost 2 years ago Caryl
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!
about 2 years ago Susan Lopez
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.
almost 3 years ago cookinalong
Thank you for posting this! It's inspired! Bourbon has been waiting for this. A match made in heaven.
almost 3 years ago PhilB
Made this today! Absolutely delicious! Used earl grey instead of Darjeeling and I loved the flavour!
almost 3 years ago vvvanessa
Oh, man this sounds so good!
almost 3 years ago Chef Lisa
This sounds great! Mat offer it as an alternative for the Mint julep on Derby Day.
almost 3 years ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Warm congratulations, Sara
almost 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks you, Cynthia!
about 3 years ago StraighttotheHipsBaby
Congratulations! This looks like such a tasty drink! Cheers!
almost 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thank you!
about 3 years ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I think you drink sounds amazing, congratulations on being a finalist and I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can make it.
almost 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks!
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thank you all! This makes me very happy because it's one of my all-time favorites.
about 3 years ago gingerroot
Yay, hla!! Well deserved congrats on being a finalist. This is such a fabulous, refreshing drink.
about 3 years ago Panfusine
This sounds absolutely DIVINE!.. definitely a WINNER in my books.
congrats on the finalist pick!
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thank you kindly, Panfusine!
about 3 years ago cookinginvictoria
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. :)
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Fingers crossed! We were up to 80ish on Monday, but now we're back down to the low 60s.
about 3 years ago ChefJune
June is a trusted source on General Cooking.
mmm what an interesting twist on iced tea!
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
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.
about 3 years ago Alexandra V. Jones
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!
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
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).
almost 3 years ago Alexandra V. Jones
Yeah they are totally addictive! Congrats!
about 3 years ago susan g
This has been a must-have for the summer, since (my comment below says) 4 years ago. A classic here, and deserves our votes!
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
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.
about 3 years ago mrslarkin
Congrats, Sara! Definitely making this soon.
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, MrsL! You'll have to let me know whether or not you like it.
about 3 years ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
YAY SARA! Congrats! This needs to go on our summer poolside roster for sure!!!
about 3 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thank you! definitely would be great pool-side during your 100+ heat waves.
about 5 years ago lapadia
Love everything about this refreshing soda, love the name, and btw, I thought I had commented before!
about 5 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
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!
about 3 years ago lapadia
Cheers.....!!!
about 5 years ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I have made this numerous times and it was a staple along with your lime in the coconut float for the past two summers. I am remiss in posting when I try something and for that I apologize. I made it with and without the booze and either way its wonderful, the tea thyme syrup is so good I can eat it by the spoonful and mixed with club soda or seltzer yields a refreshing and delicious drink. I love this!!
about 5 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Great to hear! It's one of my absolute favorite summertime refreshers. I'm not as good at posting about things I've made as I should be either, so don't feel too bad :-)
over 5 years ago EmilyC
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.
over 5 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
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.
Showing 36 out of 69 comments