Geisha your Margarita with Green Tea Geisha Cherry Margarita recipe created by Palais des Thes NYC for our summer parties.

Geisha Green Tea Cherry Margarita

Black cherry juice and cherry blossom-scented green tea give a luscious lift to a classic margarita.

12 ounces spring water
4 teaspoons of Fleur de Geisha tea*
12 ounces black cherry juice
2 ounces silver tequila
1 1/2 tablespoon agave
Sugar and ground ginger for rimming the glass
Juice from 1 lime
Juice from half an orange
Splash of triple sec
4 ice cubes
Lime slices for garnish

In a small pot, bring the spring water to a simmer over a low flame (Do not let it boil.). Add the Fleur de Geisha tea and infuse for 3 minutes. Filter out the leaves by pouring liquid through a mesh strainer or remove teabags, if using. Let the tea cool, and then place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

For the margarita, combine a little sugar and a few dashes of ground ginger on a plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass then dip the rim into the sugar-ginger mixture.

In a large cocktail shaker, combine the green tea, cherry juice, tequila, agave, lime juice, orange juice, and triple sec. Shake vigorously with ice until the outside of the cocktail shaker appears wet. Pour in glasses and garnish each glass with a slice of lime.

Serve immediately.

Yields 4 servings.

Adapted from a recipe created by Candice Birdsong of Pretty Girls Cook.

*Inspired by the Japanese Hanami tradition of cherry blossom viewing, Fleur de Geisha is a refined Japanese green tea, delicately flavored with cherry blossom. Available in 3.5oz/100g loose tea canister ($19), 3.5oz/100g loose tea pouch ($15) or boxes of 20 gourmet tea bags ($13).

Toasting the day for Tokyo Thursdays # 284

Previously: Kasei Cooking Set to Ichinotani Helmet, WA: The Essence of Japanese Design

(* Recipe and photo courtesy of Palais des Thes)