I love summer weather! The long, warm days dissolve slowly into tepid nights perfect for backyard BBQ gatherings with friends and tall icy “adult” beverages. Celebrate the upcoming 4th of July holiday with something festive and refreshing in your glass. Cocktails are fun to experiment with, and one of the hottest current trends in mixology involves infusing spirits like gin, vodka, and liqueurs with tea.

This unexpected pairing yields surprisingly full-bodied flavors that can elevate a basic cocktail to new heights. The secret is to steep tea pouches at room temperature in your favorite alcohol of choice for two to three hours (*longer steeping may result in a bitter taste). The infused spirit is shelf-stable and ready to blend with juice, lemonade. . . let your imagination run wild!

I recently experimented with several varieties of tea from my one of my favorite local companies: Mighty Leaf. Based in San Rafael, California, Mighty Leaf artisan teas are hand-picked and carefully blended with fine quality herbs, fruits, and spices to produce a superb cup every time. Their specially designed silken pouches allow the tea leaves and blossoms to fully expand for optimal flavor during steeping.

Since I prefer light, refreshing cocktails with a fruity twist, I tried infusing vodka with Mighty Leaf Organic African Nectar tea (steeped for 3 hours), which imparted delicious notes of tropical fruit and rooibos to the finished spirit. Shaken with fresh lemonade, a generous splash of mango juice, and ice this cocktail is the absolute bomb! *As a rule of thumb, steep four (4) Mighty Leaf pouches per 750ml of spirits or one (1) pouch per 6 ounces of spirits.

Another wonderful rendition is this remake of the classic Arnold Palmer using chilled Mighty Leaf Organic Earl Grey tea mixed with lemonade and a shot of Limoncello liquor. The lovely floral notes of organic bergamot and citrus make this summer refresher extra special.

The next time you’re in the mood to try something new, consider experimenting with Mighty Leaf teas to create your own unique cocktail. To help you get started, I’ve teamed up with this family owned company to launch a special two-week giveaway contest!! The lucky random winner will receive a tealicious gift package that includes boxes of Mighty Leaf Organic Earl Grey, Organic African Nectar, and Ginger Twist teas along with a commuter’s delight Tea Top Brew Mug.

To enter, follow these four easy steps:

1. Visit the Mighty Leaf website and sign up for their email newsletter. You’ll automatically receive a 15% off coupon!

2. Follow this blog.

3. “Like” both Farminista’s Feast and Mighty Leaf on Facebook.

4. Post a comment on my blog letting me know you signed up for the newsletter, subscribed to Farminista’s Feast, and liked both Facebook pages.

*Rules: One entry per person. Open to readers in the continental U.S. only. Winner will be chosen by random drawing on Monday, July 14th and posted on Farminista’s Feast Facebook page. Prize ships directly from Mighty Leaf to the lucky recipient.

July 14, 2014   And the Winner Is: Congratulations to blogger Heidi Kurtel (My Sustainable Kitchen) who will receive this lovely “tealicious” gift set from                                    Mighty Leaf Tea. Thanks for entering Heidi!