This Long Beach iced tea is not for the faint-hearted. Might I add, this is an adult-only iced tea as it is spiked up for the holiday celebrations to come? Long Beach iced tea is the perfect Christmas cocktail to serve during and in between the holidays. It blends many spirits and combines a base of Ocean Spray cranberry juice. It looks amazing and it tastes even better. Serve it chilled and enjoy before you indulge in the feast of food or afterwards. You can also make a virgin version of this Long Beach iced tea, which of course doesn’t include any alcohol whatsoever. Just be aware when you serve the iced tea that you don’t mix up the glasses!
Long Beach iced tea vs Long Island iced tea
Did your mind think of the infamous and might I say deadly, Long Island iced tea? Long Island iced tea is the not-so-distant cousin of this Long Beach iced tea. In fact, Long Island iced tea uses the same spirits as the Long Beach iced tea. These include: vodka, triple sec, gin, tequila and light rum. However, what sets these two apart is that the Long Island drink includes a splash of cola, whereas the other one includes cranberry juice.
Surprise, surprise! Long Island, New York is home to both drinks. However, the Long Island iced tea was introduced first in a contest in 1972. The name long suggests the strength of the cocktail –and it is a long drink. Long drinks should be drunk slowly. So, careful when you consume this vibrant cocktail. With the addition of the cranberry juice, the fruitiness hides the sneaky alcohol level. But, be warned, it’s definitely in there! Hence, the effect of this Long Beach iced tea will hit you quite soon. Before you know it, you’ll be singing your favourite songs in front of all your relatives. So, a word to the wise, drink slowly and proceed with caution!
Long Beach iced tea – healthy cranberry juice
What sets this cocktail apart and produces its signature pink colour is the delicious Ocean Spray® Cranberry Original Juice. This healthy cranberry juice is perfect for bolstering your immunity during the colder months. Rich on nutrients as well as the antioxidant vitamin C, this juice is the best and most refreshing alternative to other juices.
The Ocean Spray® Cranberry Original juice drink has at least 27% cranberry juice, which is equivalent to the juice from 50 cranberries per 200ml glass or 250 cranberries per litre. So, a mere 200ml glass of Ocean Spray® Cranberry Original Juice will provide you with 60% of your recommended daily dose. Naturally, there are no added flavourings, artificial colourings and preservatives in Ocean Spray Cranberry juices. Most noteworthy, Ocean Spray® Cranberry Original Juice is now packaged in a recyclable PET bottle. So, what better way to start living a more healthier lifestyle in the New Year?
It is a blend of ripe, ruby-red cranberries that are brought straight from the field to you. Farmers who have more than 80 years of experience and tradition in terms of delivering quality grow these select cranberries. So, let this humble fruit help you achieve a balanced diet and a healthier lifestyle.
light Long Beach iced tea
If you are seeking a lighter version to the Ocean Spray® Cranberry Original Juice, then go for the Cranberry Original No Added Sugar. As the name suggests, it has no added sugar and contains only 12 calories per 150 ml glass serving. Hence, this juice is extremely suitable for diabetics and those who strive to reduce their consumption of sugar. Even so, the cranberry is naturally low in sugar and studies have shown that if you consume cranberry juice regularly it can help you reduce a number of cold symptoms.
You can use either juice to make a delicious cranberry smoothie, other alcoholic beverages like the famous Cosmopolitan and much more.
juice proportions and flavour
If you want to bring down the level of alcohol, you can do so by simply adding more juice. You can also add more ice which then dissolves into the iced tea, weakening your drink. As for the flavour, apart from the cranberry juice, the triple sec is the only sweet element. If you still think that the Long Beach iced tea needs to be sweeter, then add more of the sweet and sour mix. Alternatively, you can simply stir in a little bit of sugar or maple syrup.
virgin Long Beach iced tea
If you want, or rather need, to serve a virgin (alcohol-free) version of this cocktail, it’s very easy. First, omit all alcoholic elements from the recipe and go heavy on the cranberry juice. Add lime juice and the sweet and sour mix. Next, you can opt for adding any type of fruit tea such as forest fruits. Or go for a more exotic flavour with tea that has hibiscus flavours or maracuja. Naturally, you have to cool the tea before you stir it with the delicious cranberry juice. If you prefer your drink to be bursting with even more fruity flavour, then you can also make a sort of raspberry or cranberry coulis which you then stir into the cocktail. This way, you can serve an alcohol-free version if needed.
decorate your cocktail
Use a plastic straw alternative and decorate with slices of lemon or lime. You may also include other fruits such as strawberries, a slice of pineapple, kiwi and much more. If you want to give the Long Beach iced tea a little exotic twist, decorate the beverage with a little umbrella.
If you feel like you would like to serve more cocktails, you can also try my Buck’s Fizz recipe which is very easy to master. Compared to the Long Beach iced tea, it doesn’t require spirits but is based on champagne. Hence, it makes a refreshingly light alternative.
Enjoy drinking this amazing beverage and please share with me in the comments below if you decided to put your own spin on Long Beach iced tea!
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Long Beach Iced Tea
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
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Pin RecipeDescription
Learn how to make this simple and flavourful Long Beach Iced Tea. You’ll discover the difference between a Long Beach Iced Tea and a Long Island Iced Tea.
Ingredients
- 30ml (1oz) vodka
- 30ml (1oz) rum
- 30ml (1oz) gin
- 30ml (1oz) tequila
- 30ml (1oz) triple sec
- 60ml (2oz) sweet & sour mix
- 125ml (4oz) Ocean Spray cranberry juice
- Lime slices
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the spirits and top the rest of the glass with cranberry juice.
- Garnish with lime slices and serve immediately.
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 463
- Sugar: 43.9 g
- Sodium: 2452 mg
- Carbohydrates: 26.1 g
- Fiber: 1.9 g
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