🫖✨An East-meets-West take on the classic Arnold Palmer
We’re still deep in our series exploring Japanese flavors, and today’s recipe is a refreshing twist on one of my favorite drinks: the Arnold Palmer. If you’ve been following along, you might remember my Cozy Arnold Palmer—a cold-weather version of the iconic iced tea and calamansi combo that’s soothing, and perfect for curling up under a blanket.
This time around, I wanted to adapt that idea to suit warmer weather and our current love for all things Japanese. Enter: the Hojicha Yuzu Palmer. It’s got that same half-and-half tea-meets-citrus vibe, but instead of black tea and calamansi, we’re using roasted hojicha and fragrant yuzu juice.
It’s earthy, slightly smoky from the hojicha, with just the right amount of bright citrus tang from the yuzu. Lightly sweetened with honey and served over ice, this is the kind of drink you’ll want to keep in your fridge all summer long.
🌸 We sipped on these under the Japanese maple trees in a waterfront park in Bremerton, enjoying them as an accompaniment to an assortment of Japanese rice rolls and fruit sandos while the kids ran around the fountain, soaking up the sun. It was one of those golden afternoon moments that felt equal parts peaceful and joyful—the perfect vibe for this drink.
💛 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🍯 Aromatic + Balanced: The roasted notes of hojicha and tart brightness of yuzu create a refreshing and sophisticated drink.
- 🌱 Naturally Sweetened: This drink uses honey instead of refined sugar, which adds depth and a gentle sweetness.
- 🧊 Big Batch Friendly: Makes a whole liter—perfect for entertaining, road trips, or just stocking your fridge.
- 🏡 Cafe Vibes at Home: It tastes fancy but comes together with just a few ingredients.
🧂 Ingredients
Yield: 1 liter (about 4 servings)
- 1 liter water
- 75 ml yuzu juice
- 8 hojicha tea bags
- ⅓ cup honey
- Ice, optional
- Lemon or lime twist for garnish, optional
🍵 Instructions
- In a medium pot, bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Add the hojicha tea bags and immediately turn off the heat.
- Let steep for 10 minutes, then remove the tea bags.
- Stir in honey until fully dissolved.
- Add yuzu juice and stir to combine.
- Cool completely before transferring to a bottle or pitcher.
- Refrigerate before serving. Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon or lime twist, if desired.
🌈 Notes & Variations
- 🔁 Sweetness Flexibility: Add more or less honey to suit your taste—or use agave or maple syrup if you prefer.
- 🧊 Chilled-Only Vibe: This drink is designed for sipping cold; it’s not meant to be served warm.
- 🍚 Tea Alternatives: Try genmaicha (green tea with roasted rice) for a slightly nutty variation.
- ✨ Sparkle It Up: Top with a splash of sparkling water for an effervescent twist.
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