Sparkling Blueberry Tea Cocktail – Low Carb Keto Recipe
When growing up in Louisiana, summer was full of sweet tea. I gave up sweet tea long ago, but tea consumption has been a lifelong obsession. Now summers are for keto tea cocktails by the pool. Making a cocktail keto friendly isn't that hard if you stick with sugar-free mixers and low sugar alcohols. This Sparkling Keto Blueberry Tea Cocktail may just be my new summer go to pool drink!
Where to Buy Great Tea
In Cincinnati, we are lucky enough to have several tea stores. My favorite one takes online orders. For this keto cocktail, I used the Essencha Blueberry Bloom white tea. Another great place to buy tea online is Culinary Teas.
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How to Make Tea
Making tea at the proper temperature makes all the difference in the world. Tea that's over steeped or made at the wrong temperature can be really bitter. Drinking properly brewed tea has a far superior flavor.
Way back in the day, I would use a candy thermometer in a tea kettle to get the water temperature right depending on what kind of tea I was making. Then about 12 years ago, I found the first ever tea maker with adjustable temperature control. I was in heaven! That one didn't last. But it introduced me to the idea that making great tea could be a lot easier.
Then, the best thing ever came along. It's a bit pricey, but totally worth it if you drink tea every day. The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker is pretty much the greatest thing since sliced keto bread. It's adjustable in five-degree increments and it lowers the tea into the water automatically and brings it back up when the time you set to steep is over. Perfectly brewed tea every time. And, when you forget about it, you can heat it back up in the same pot without lowering the basket again. Pretty sweet!
I've had it for about 10 years now and wouldn't trade it for the world.
It also serves as my water kettle for our french press coffee…which again, you get the perfect 205-degree temperature for great coffee every time. The latest one I got is double German glass, so hopefully no more french press broken glass woes. Fingers crossed!
Benefits of Drinking Tea
There have been a lot of studies on the benefits of drinking tea. Of particular interest to a lot of people are the studies on EGCG contained in green tea, which may help with weight loss. One of the most recent also showed that EGCG may have effects on cancer as well1.
Green tea isn't the only one with benefits though. White tea is the least processed and contains the most antioxidants. One particular antioxidant of interest in white tea is polyphenol, which protects cells from free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage that are linked to a number of diseases2. Black tea may have a number of benefits as well, including cholesterol reduction3, if you actually think that's important.
For a greater discussion of the role of cholesterol and diet, check out our Complete Guide to the Ketogenic Diet.
For this keto blueberry cocktail, we chose a white tea for it's delicacy and also because you can easily find a white tea with blueberry flavor. Green or black blueberry tea would be too overpowering.
Drinking Alcohol on Keto
If you're wondering if drinking alcohol on keto is a good idea, the answer is that it depends on your goals. Based on carb counts alone, you can definitely drink alcohol and stay within your keto diet carb allowance. However, some alcohols may be better than your health than others.
Depending on how many carbs you personally can have and remain in ketosis, you could fit in some alcohol depending on which you chose. However, there are still calories to consider.
Plus, when you consume alcohol, your liver switches pretty quickly away from fat burning and begins the process of metabolizing the alcohol instead since the body considers alcohol a poison. Since there are byproducts of alcohol metabolization that can be used for energy, the body will use those for fuel, slowing down fat metabolism.
This keto blueberry cocktail recipe keeps both the alcohol and sugar light so it likely won't kick you out of ketosis. I actually tested myself for blood sugar and ketones before and after drinking two glasses of sugar-free wine from Dry Farm. Not only did I stay in ketosis, my ketones were actually higher after drinking it.
So if your goal is maximum fat loss, drinking alcohol on keto might not be right for you. Your weight loss goals and other health factors should guide how often you choose to drink alcohol and allow this slowed fat burning process to take place. For a longer discussion on drinking alcohol on keto, check out our review of keto friendly, healthier, clean, sugar-free, Dry Farm Wines.
Blueberry Tea Cocktail, With or Without Vodka
The great thing about this cocktail is that it's light and refreshing. You can even choose to make it a mocktail with one simple modification. Simply substitute 1 1/2 cups of blueberry sparkling water or plain for the champagne. It would also be great with some mint muddled in the bottom with the strawberries.
Berries were left whole for the sake of photos, but muddled is definitely better! Unless you want to cut the carb count more, then don't consume many of the berries, just let them flavor the drink.
The blueberry flavoring is optional, but it's calorie and sugar-free, and great to have around for other keto recipes like pancakes or cupcakes. Vodka is also optional, but it's not much. However, cutting it out gives slightly fewer calories and obviously, less alcohol. It makes a fantastic blueberry tea cocktail even without the optional ingredients, I tasted it both ways.
Blueberry Tea Cocktail - Low Carb Keto Recipe
Ingredients
For The Tea
- 750 milliliters water, 175 degrees
- 2 tablespoons white tea, blueberry flavor if possible
For the Blueberry Cocktail
- 2 ½ cups white tea
- 1 ½ cups champagne or cava, lowest sugar possible
- ½ teaspoon blueberry flavoring, optional
- 3 drops liquid stevia, to taste
- ⅓ cup blueberries, frozen
- ½ ounce vodka, optional
Instructions
- Place 2 tablespoons of white tea in 750 milliliters of 175 degree water.
- Steep tea for 6 minutes then remove tea leaves.
- Mix together 2 1/2 cups of white tea, champagne, blueberry flavor, liquid stevia, frozen blueberries and vodka.
- Pour into glasses making sure there are blueberries in each one.
- Blueberry flavoring is optional, but definitely handy to have around for other keto recipes.
- Vodka is also optional if you prefer to cut out calories and higher alcohol content.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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