Use gunpowder green tea if you can find it. The robust flavor will provide depth to this quaffable cocktail recipe.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon gunpowder green tea or regular green tea
1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled, thinly sliced
3 wide (2-inch) strips orange zest
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped mint, plus sprigs for serving
1 cup London dry gin
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wheels for serving
Directions
Bring 3 cups water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, add tea, and let steep 3 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, then return tea to saucepan. Add ginger, orange zest, sugar, and 1/2 cup mint; return to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Let cool.
Strain tea syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing on solids; discard solids. Stir in gin and lemon juice and chill until cold, about 1 hour.
Serve in rocks glasses filled with ice garnished with lemon wheels and mint sprigs.
