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There are a few popular mixed drinks that combine tea and vodka. The most common is likely the Long Island Iced Tea, which despite its name contains no actual tea. Instead, it mixes vodka with tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, sweet and sour mix and a splash of Coke. While delicious, this cocktail has very little to do with real tea. However, there are some vodka and tea combinations that allow the tea flavor to shine through.
Vodka and Tea Combinations
Here are some of the most popular real tea and vodka mixed drinks:
Vodka Arnold Palmer
An Arnold Palmer is a non-alcoholic drink combining iced tea and lemonade. To make a boozy version, simply add vodka. The tart lemonade helps cut the alcohol taste while the tea provides its signature flavor profile. It’s refreshing and easy to adjust the strength by adding more or less vodka.
Vodka Mint Tea
Mint tea is an herbal tea made by steeping mint leaves in hot water. Allow mint tea to cool, then mix it with vodka over ice for a summery cocktail. The mint provides a burst of fresh flavor and pairs nicely with vodka’s subtle taste. Try garnishing with a mint sprig.
Vodka Peach Tea
For a bit of sweet southern flavor, mix vodka with peach iced tea. Use a high quality peach tea and avoid bottled varieties loaded with high fructose corn syrup. The peach and tea flavors mesh beautifully with the vodka to create a tasty cocktail. Shake over ice and garnish with a peach slice.
Green Tea Vodka Tonic
For a refreshing and lighter vodka drink, mix green tea with tonic water and vodka. Use a high quality green tea and avoid the bottled green tea drinks packed with sugar. The green tea offers health benefits from antioxidants as well as a pleasant, grassy flavor that complements the botanicals in tonic water.
Thai Tea Vodka
Inspired by the Thai restaurant favorite, this cocktail combines strong black tea, spices, milk and vodka. Brew black tea with spices like cardamom, cinnamon and star anise. Once cooled, mix the spiced tea with milk and vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice. The result is a creamy vodka drink with bold Thai tea flavors.
Choosing a Vodka for Tea Cocktails
When mixing vodka with tea, you’ll want to use a good quality vodka that complements rather than overpowers the tea. Here are some things to consider when selecting a vodka:
- Avoid bottom-shelf vodkas, which often have a harsh alcohol taste that clashes with tea’s subtle flavors.
- Stick to simple vodka rather than flavored varieties like citrus or vanilla to allow the tea flavors to shine.
- Sweeter teas like peach tea pair well with Russian vodkas like Russian Standard.
- For green and herbal teas, try a Scandinavian vodka like Finlandia.
- With black tea, Smirnoff makes a solid mixer.
You can also infuse vodka with tea flavors prior to mixing the cocktails. Simply add black, green or herbal teas to a bottle of vodka and let steep for 1-3 days until the vodka takes on the tea’s flavors
Balancing Tea and Vodka in Cocktails
When mixing any cocktail, balancing the different flavor components is key. These tips will help you achieve the perfect balance of tea and vodka:
- Taste the tea on its own so you understand its inherent sweetness and strength.
- Start with a 2:1 ratio of tea to vodka and adjust to taste.
- Add syrups or citrus to brighten up flavors as needed.
- Muddling fresh herbs and fruits can also boost flavors.
- Pay attention to dilution – tea can become watery fast.
- Consider tea ice cubes to avoid diluting as the drink chill.
- Sweeten with honey or agave rather than plain white sugar.
Serving Tea & Vodka Drinks
Tea and vodka cocktails can be served like typical cocktails, either straight up or over ice. Consider garnishing with fruit slices, fresh herbs, flowers or tea bags to accentuate the flavors. Brewed teas tend to lose their heat quickly, so be sure to drink tea vodka cocktails fast before they become lukewarm. Below are some serving suggestions:
- Serve Arnold Palmers in tall Collins glasses with plenty of ice.
- Mint tea vodkas look great in a tall whiskey glass.
- Shake peach tea vodka with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Serve Thai tea cocktails in short rocks glasses without ice.
- Green tea vodkas can be served on the rocks or strained into a martini glass.
Pretty glassware can further enhance the look of your tea infused cocktails. Ultimately though, the ideal glass is one that maintains the optimal chilled temperature.
Popular Tea Vodka Cocktail Recipes
Here are some delicious vodka and tea cocktail recipes to mix up:
Long Island Iced Tea
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz white rum
- 1 oz silver tequila
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 2 oz lemon juice
- Coca-cola
- Lemon wedge garnish
Add vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, simple syrup and lemon juice to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Top with coke and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Moscow Mule
- 2 oz vodka
- 4-6 oz ginger beer
- 0.5 oz lime juice
- Mint sprig garnish
In a copper mug or Collins glass filled with ice, add vodka, ginger beer and lime juice. Stir gently and garnish with mint.
Bloody Mary
- 2 oz vodka
- 3 oz tomato juice
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- Pinch celery salt & pepper
- Lemon wedge & celery stalk garnish
Combine vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, celery salt and pepper in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon and celery.
Green Tea Collins
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 4 oz brewed green tea
- Thin cucumber slice garnish
In a shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and 2 oz green tea. Shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and top with remaining 2 oz tea. Garnish with a thin cucumber slice.
Peach Sweet Tea Vodka
- 2 oz vodka
- 3 oz peach sweet tea
- 1 oz lemonade
- Peach slice garnish
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, peach sweet tea and lemonade. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a thin peach slice.
The Best Tea for Vodka Cocktails
While you can mix vodka with almost any tea, some varieties work better than others. Here are the best teas to use in vodka cocktails:
| Tea Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Black Tea | Bold flavor, moderate caffeine, pairs well with dairy |
| Green Tea | Grassy, vegetal flavor, gentle caffeine, bright finish |
| White Tea | Delicate flavor, subtle sweetness, floral aroma |
| Oolong Tea | Distinctive floral and fruity notes, smooth mouthfeel |
| Chai Tea | Strong spice flavors like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove |
| Hibiscus Tea | Tart cranberry-like flavor, vivid red color |
| Yerba Mate | Grassy and herbal flavor, high caffeine content |
| Mint Tea | Cool, refreshing mint flavor, soothing aftertaste |
Conclusion
Tea and vodka can be amazing companions when crafted into cocktails. The key is choosing teas with flavors that complement, rather than clash, with vodka’s clean and slightly sweet profile. Balancing the proportions is also important to prevent the tea from getting drowned out. With the right combination, tea vodka cocktails provide a smooth way to enjoy your brewed beverages in spirited form. The variety of teas and serving methods also allows for creativity in mixing and presentation. Sip your way through black tea Long Islands, minty Moscow mules, zesty Arnold Palmers and more to find your perfect tea infused vodka specialty. Just be sure to drink responsibly and never drive after imbibing any alcoholic drinks.