Bring on the Bubbles: Sparkling Tea Tonic

Part iced tea, part grown-up soft drink, entirely more exciting than another glass of something beige.

A sparkling tea tonic pairs a concentrated brew with chilled tonic water, plenty of ice and a twist of citrus. The tea brings flavour and depth; the tonic adds bubbles, sweetness and a pleasantly bitter finish.

It looks fancy. It takes very little effort. Our favourite kind of recipe.

How to make it

1. Add the tea to 100ml of water and brew for the time recommended on the pack.

2. Remove the teabags or strain the leaves, then allow the concentrated tea to cool completely. Pop it in the fridge to speed things up—or stand the jug in cold water if patience isn’t your strongest quality.

3. Fill a tall glass generously with ice and pour in the chilled tea.

4. Slowly top with tonic water. Pouring gently helps to keep as many of those lovely bubbles as possible.

5. Give it one light stir and finish with a slice or twist of citrus.

6. Sip somewhere you can feel disproportionately pleased with your creation.

Why make the tea stronger?

Tonic water and melting ice both dilute the brew, so this recipe uses twice the usual amount of tea in less water.

That gives you plenty of flavour without having to leave the tea brewing for longer. More tea creates a stronger base; overbrewing can bring unwanted bitterness - and the tonic already has that department covered.

Let the tea cool first

Tempting though it may be, don’t add tonic water to hot tea. Heat quickly knocks the fizz out of carbonated drinks, leaving your sparkling tea tonic considerably less sparkling.

Cooling the tea completely also stops the ice from melting too quickly, so your finished drink stays crisp rather than slowly becoming tea-flavoured water.

Choose your tonic

A classic tonic water brings sweetness and a distinctive bittersweet finish. A light tonic creates a slightly drier drink with less sweetness, while flavoured tonics can add another dimension.

Start with something fairly simple so the tea still gets a word in. Once you know the combination works, feel free to experiment with citrus, elderflower or botanical tonics.

Add 100ml for a more tea-forward drink or take it up to 150ml for extra fizz and a gentler flavour.

Teas that love a little sparkle

Maximum Velocitea
Turning it into a tea tonic makes this lively blend even brighter and more refreshing. Finish with lemon or grapefruit for a crisp citrus edge.

Clean Green
The fresh character of green tea works beautifully with tonic’s gentle bitterness. Add lime for a clean, zingy serve that feels surprisingly sophisticated for something made in five minutes.

Strong tea, cold tonic and plenty of ice. Consider your usual afternoon cuppa officially upgraded.