Green Tea Margarita

I love a love-hate relationship with green tea. The only green tea that I actually like is the one from Starbucks. I get the green tea-lemonade and it's delicious. Green tea on it's own I just can't do it. I've added honey and lemon and it's too sweet. I even tried a green tea latte, and if you can get over the look of a creamy, frothy grass colored mixture, I'm sure it's delicious. I know the healthy benefits of green tea, just like I'm sure there are some health benefits to eating liver...... but I just can't do it. However, I can enjoy the benefits of green tea.......... in a margarita!!!!!!!!!!!

Green Tea Margarita

Ingredients:

1 ounce Tazo Zen green tea

1.5 ounces Patron Silver (or tequila of choice)

0.75 ounces Cointreau

lemons

limes

oranges

simple syrup

optional mint leaves

Directions:

Prepare tea as you normally would. Set to the side as you prepare the rest. In a cocktail shaker pour in Patron Silver (or any other tequila you prefer), Cointreau, and simple syrup. Squeeze 3 lemon slices, 3 lime slices and 2 orange slices. You can either place the fruit in the cocktail shaker or throw them away, I put mine in the shaker. Last but not least, add an ounce of the green tea. Shake vigorously. Be careful, because the shaker is rather full. Pour contents over ice in a margarita glass and garnish with an orange, lime and a mint leaf. Salt rim or no salt, the choice is yours.

The plus side of this margarita is using the fresh fruit instead of a sour mix. Sour mix has a high sugar content and it is very fattening. (Hello carbs!) When you use the fresh fruit you're getting vitamins, natural sugars, and all your "required" fruit intake for the day. Helping you meet your daily fruit quota is just me doing my part to save the world. You're welcome.

I admit a mint leaf may seem like a weird addition to a margarita but, the Tazo Zen green tea has a touch of mint and lemongrass in it so it's a nice compliment to that. I also feel like it lightens the margarita a little bit. I wish I could explain that a little bit more but it makes sense to me. Hopefully if you try the margarita you'll understand what I meant by it.

A lesson in tequila. Why do I suggest Patron Silver?! Well because it's smooth and delicious. But seriously, I find that many people shy away from tequila. Tequila is not the shot drink that people think it is. Rarely do you ever hear anyone ask for tequila unless they're already on the brink of too much to drink and then it's followed by salt and a lime?! Why would you torture yourself like that?! I like to explain tequila like I do vodka. There are varying levels of vodka. The same is true for tequila. Tequila does not have to have that cringe factor to it. The key is finding tequila that is made with 100% pure blue agave. If you would like more information about tequila you can visit this site.

Simple syrup can be bought at your local grocery store. Or you can make it. Use 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. Bring to a boil on the stove, stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Simple syrup can be stored in an air tight container in your refrigerator ...... forever.

make this margarita after holiday shopping and you'll be relaxed in no time.

Cheers!