Iced Star Anise Citrus Cooler
Cold-brewed star anise tea shaken with orange juice and lime — a refreshing, naturally sweet, caffeine-free cooler with a warm spiced finish.
Cold-brewing star anise mellows its bold licorice intensity into something smoother and rounder, while still keeping its signature warmth — proof that even an assertive spice tea can work beautifully over ice.
Orange and lime juice are the perfect citrus partners here. The orange's natural sweetness echoes the tea's anethole sweetness, while a splash of lime keeps the whole drink bright and prevents it from feeling cloying.
Cold-brewing overnight, rather than steeping hot and chilling, is what makes this cooler taste clean rather than bitter — the slow, cold extraction draws out the sweet spice notes while leaving any harsher compounds behind.
Serve tall over plenty of ice on a warm afternoon. Since it's completely caffeine-free, this is a refreshing option any time of day, including a relaxed evening on the porch.
Ingredients
- 3 whole star anise pods
- 3 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp honey or simple syrup
- Orange slices, for garnish
- Ice cubes
How to make it
- 1Cold-brew: place star anise pods in cold water in a pitcher or jar. Refrigerate 8–12 hours.
- 2Strain out the pods, pressing gently to release any remaining flavor.
- 3Stir in orange juice, lime juice, and honey or simple syrup until dissolved.
- 4Fill glasses with ice, pour the cooler over the top, and garnish with orange slices.
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