Holiday Green Tea Cooler Mocktail Recipe

I’ll admit, I love having something festive to sip during the holidays, but honestly, I’m not always in the mood for alcohol. That’s what led me to throw together this Holiday Green Tea Cooler Mocktail.

It’s refreshing, light, and still feels a bit special—like it actually belongs at a party, you know?

You don’t need anything fancy here—just a handful of simple ingredients you probably have kicking around. The green tea gives it this smooth, mellow base, and then the citrus and sparkling water kind of wake everything up.

It’s easy enough to make just one glass, but you can scale it up for a whole pitcher if you’ve got friends coming over.

You’ll see exactly how to pull it together, what you’ll need to mix it up, and what kind of flavors you can expect once you take a sip.

Holiday Green Tea Cooler Mocktail Recipe

Honestly, I keep coming back to this drink because it’s so refreshing but doesn’t fade into the background. The green tea, lime, mint, ginger, and sparkling water keep things light, and the honey brings just enough sweetness without being cloying.

Equipment

You don’t need much for this mocktail, which is nice. But having a solid glass or pitcher definitely helps when you’re mixing.

A muddler is handy for getting the most out of your mint leaves—otherwise, a wooden spoon works in a pinch.

• Pitcher or large mixing glass
• Muddler or wooden spoon
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Small saucepan or kettle
• Fine mesh strainer
• Tall serving glasses
• Mixing spoon
• Ice cube tray

If you’ve got a citrus juicer, great. If not, squeezing the lime by hand works fine—just watch out for seeds.

Ingredients

I like sticking with fresh, simple ingredients. It keeps the flavors clean and crisp, not overpowering.

• 2 cups brewed green tea, cooled
• 1 tablespoon honey (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 6–8 fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup sparkling water
• Ice cubes
• Lime slices and extra mint leaves for garnish

Sometimes I’ll add a touch more honey if I’m in the mood for something sweeter. But I always keep the lime and mint as is—they really make the drink pop.

Instructions

I usually make the tea ahead of time so it’s cool when I’m ready. Warm tea and ice just… doesn’t work for me.

• Brew the green tea and let it cool down all the way.
• In a pitcher, combine the honey, lime juice, and grated ginger. Stir until the honey dissolves—don’t rush it.
• Add in the cooled tea and give it a good mix.
• Gently muddle the mint leaves right in the pitcher to release their oils.
• Fill your glasses with ice, then pour in the tea mixture.
• Top off each glass with sparkling water.
• Garnish with lime slices and extra mint leaves—makes it look festive.

I usually give it a gentle stir after adding the sparkling water, just so the bubbles don’t disappear too fast.

Notes

I’ve found this mocktail works best if you brew the tea medium strength. If it’s too strong, it gets kind of bitter, but if it’s too weak, the flavor just vanishes.

Fresh mint is a must, in my opinion. Dried mint doesn’t cut it here.

Same goes for ginger—fresh is way brighter than powdered, and you can really taste the difference.

If I’m making this for a group, I’ll double up the recipe but keep the sparkling water separate until it’s time to serve. Keeps things fizzy for everyone.

Tasting Notes

Honestly, that first sip is pretty light and crisp—makes this holiday mocktail super easy to like. The chilled green tea? It’s got this clean base, almost like something you’d want on a warm afternoon.

There’s a gentle sweetness, but it’s not heavy at all. I get a soft fruit note in there, and it actually balances out the mild earthiness of the tea.

It never tips over into being too sugary, which keeps everything smooth. That’s something I really appreciate.

There’s also this little hint of citrus—I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it definitely brightens things up. That touch adds a bit of sparkle, makes the whole drink feel more lively somehow.

The green tea isn’t just about taste, either. I kind of like knowing it’s got antioxidants, so it feels a bit more wholesome, but still fun enough for a holiday get-together.

Each sip stays light, never filling, which is nice if you want to have it with food or just on its own. The mix of tea, fruit, and that subtle sweetness keeps it tasting fresh and uncomplicated.