Oolong tea lends a complex and sophisticated flavor profile to vodka in the oolong tea vodka recipe. Serve this oolong tea-infused vodka straight, mix it with simple syrup for a tea liqueur, or use it as a base for more complex tea cocktails.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 hours
Total Time: 15 hours, 10 minutes
Yield: Ten two-ounce servings
Ingredients:
- 750 mL neutral-tasting vodka (a.k.a. "a fifth")
- 6 level teaspoons good quality rolled oolong tealeaves or 9 lightly crushed teaspoons twisted or wiry oolong tealeaves (The tea can be flavored or unflavored, but unflavored tea vodkas usually have a better flavor profile for mixing. I used a rare oolong called Royal Garland for the vodka in the photograph.)
- Simple syrup (optional, to taste)
Preparation:
- Using a funnel, place the tealeaves into the bottle of vodka.
- Replace the cap of the bottle and shake well.
- Steep for about 15 hours, or to taste.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer and funnel into a different bottle. (If you plan to add simple syrup, use a larger bottle.)
- Discard the tealeaves. Add simple syrup to the remaining solution if desired.
- Serve straight, on the rocks or as a base for more complex cocktails.
