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Art Basil

Cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with basil.
Photo by Jennifer Chong

Tea can be a great base for drinks of all kinds because it imparts layers of flavor without adding sugar. In this nonalcoholic cocktail, green tea adds a slightly vegetal, floral quality.

This recipe is excerpted from ‘Free Spirit Cocktails: 40 Nonalcoholic Drink Recipes’ by Camille Wilson. Buy the full book on Amazon.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

Basil Syrup

1

cup (200 g) granulated sugar

1

cup (240 ml) water

1

cup (12 g) basil leaves

Cocktail

1

egg white* or 2 Tbsp. aquafaba (optional)

2

oz. (60 ml) freshly brewed green tea

¾

oz. (22.5 ml) Basil Syrup

¾

oz. (22.5 ml) fresh lemon juice

½

oz. (15 ml) pineapple juice

Basil leaf, for garnish

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Make the Basil Syrup

    Step 1

    In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, and basil. Once boiling, turn down the heat and let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let steep, covered, for 30 minutes.

    Step 2

    Using a strainer, strain the mixture into a resealable container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

  2. Make the cocktail

    Step 3

    In a cocktail shaker, combine the egg white or aquafaba (if using), green tea, basil syrup, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a basil leaf.

    *Raw egg is not recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems…or people who don’t like raw egg.

Image may contain: Beverage, Soda, Juice, Lemonade, Food, Fruit, Plant, Produce, Citrus Fruit, Alcohol, and Cocktail
Reprinted from Free Spirit Cocktails: 40 Nonalcoholic Drink Recipes by Camille Wilson, with permission from Chronicle Books, 2022. Photographs © Jennifer Chong. Buy the book from Amazon or Chronicle Books.