English Afternoon Tea Pimm's Cup
A garden-party twist on the classic Pimm's Cup—built on cold-brewed English Afternoon with cucumber, strawberry, orange, and lemonade.
The Pimm's Cup is the official drink of British summer—Wimbledon centre court, Henley regatta, every garden party from Cornwall to Yorkshire. The original is built on Pimm's No. 1, a gin-based liqueur infused with herbs and citrus. Adding cold-brewed English Afternoon as the base transforms it from a cocktail into something deeper, more tea-room and afternoon-shadow.
Cold-brew the tea overnight to preserve the Darjeeling florals—they need to be alive to play with the herbal liqueur. Use a strong concentrate: three tea bags in two cups of water. You want the tea to be assertive enough to stand up to the Pimm's and the lemonade.
The garnishes are part of the drink. Cucumber slices, strawberry halves, orange wheels, fresh mint—they're not decoration, they're flavor. Each piece releases something into the glass as you drink, so the cocktail evolves through the hour. Use a wooden spoon to gently push them under the ice from time to time.
For a mocktail version, replace the Pimm's with a 50/50 mix of cold-brewed English Afternoon and ginger ale. Add a splash of orange juice and a few dashes of orange bitters for the herbal backbone. The fruit and herb garnishes do most of the work—you genuinely won't miss the alcohol, and it's exactly as picnic-perfect as the original.
Ingredients
- 60 ml Pimm's No. 1
- 120 ml cold-brewed English Afternoon (strong)
- 60 ml chilled lemonade or ginger ale
- 3 cucumber slices
- 2 strawberries, halved
- 1 orange wheel
- Fresh mint sprig
- Ice cubes (plenty)
How to make it
- 1Cold-brew the tea ahead: 3 tea bags in 2 cups cold water, refrigerated 8 hours. Use the concentrate for this drink.
- 2Fill a tall highball glass with ice.
- 3Add cucumber slices, strawberry halves, and an orange wheel around the ice.
- 4Pour the Pimm's over the ice, then the cold-brewed tea, then top with the lemonade or ginger ale.
- 5Stir gently with a long spoon to combine. Slap a mint sprig between your palms and add as garnish. Drink slowly, eating the fruit as you go.
Want to learn more about English Afternoon? Visit its full profile.
Back to English AfternoonYou might also like
English Afternoon Lemon and Honey Brew
A lighter, floral afternoon tea brightened with fresh lemon and raw honey—the classic between-meals ritual that soothes and gently lifts you.
Iced English Afternoon with Peach and Mint
Cold-brewed English Afternoon poured over muddled peach and fresh mint—a floral, fruit-forward iced tea perfect for a garden afternoon.