Think of your ideal margarita, then make it better. In Lauren Mote’s zero-proof version here, oolong tea’s funky attributes work beautifully alongside the other components in her Cero Oolong Margarita. Both cocktails are perfectly balanced with the addition of Moondog Latin bitters from Lauren Mote’s own brand, Bittered Sling.
Cero Oolong Margarita
Lauren Mote's virgin Margarita uses Oolong tea and jalapeno.
Ingredients
Oolong Brew
- 1 L filtered water
- 2 tbsp oolong tea leaves
Cocktail
- lemon wedge
- kosher salt
- ice
- 1 ½ oz Oolong Brew
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz pineapple juice
- ½ oz agave syrup 1:1
- 1 small jalapeno cut into rounds
- ½ pinch ground black pepper
- 3 basil leaves
- 2 dashes Bittered Sling Moondog Latin Bitters optional
Instructions
Oolong Brew
- Place tea in a heat-proof container. In a large pot, bring water to simmer without boiling. Add hot water to container and infuse for 15 minutes. Strain through fine-mesh sieve and let cool completely. Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Cocktail
- Rub half a rock glass with a lemon wedge; dip in small plate of kosher salt to coat half a rim. Fill glass with ice.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice; add Oolong Brew, lemon juice, pineapple juice, agave syrup, 3 jalapeno rounds, pepper, basil leaves and bitters. Shake hard for 3 seconds.
- Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with lemon and jalapeno.
