We often talk about the scent of summer, but what about the taste of summer?
Some things that scream “summer” to us —the shimmer of the afternoon sun on a calm lake, the brush of a mountain breeze on your face, the crackle of a campfire, and that first refreshing sip of something cold after a long day outside. Whether you’ve just hiked through the high desert or spent the day jumping into alpine lakes, a crisp, aromatic drink is the perfect way to close out your wild summer adventures.
At Juniper Ridge, we harvest nature’s ingredients to bottle up the feeling of the forest—and our line of Botanical Tea is no exception. From the bright, cooling lift of White Sage + Mint to the complex, slightly sweet notes of Yerba Santa, each tea is crafted to evoke the scent and soul of the wild places they are inspired by.
This summer, we’re bringing the forest to your cup with a few cocktail (and mocktail) recipes that pair perfectly with campsites, backyard BBQs, or anywhere else your summer adventures take you.
The Recipes
These recipes were developed to be delicious with or without your favorite spirits so we included some easy swaps to make it inclusive for sober folks, families, or leisurely all-day sipping. We encourage you to experiment and create your own unique versions! If you do, be sure to tag us on Instagram—we'd love to try your creations this summer.
Bonus: Click on the recipe title for a handy recipe card to save and share.
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A crisp, citrus-forward drink that’s as refreshing as a quick dip in a cool lake. Ingredients: - 4 oz Junmai Sake - 0.5 oz Cointreau - 4 oz Iced Douglas Fir + Rosehip Tea - 3 oz Soda Water - A Squeeze Of Fresh Citrus Juice (to taste) - Citrus Peel (for garnish)
Swap the sake for more iced tea, and the Cointreau for more of your favorite citrus fruit juice (tangerine, grapefruit, POG....) for the alcohol free version. Instructions: Crew Note: Try it with the Yerba Santa Tea for an herbal, sweeter flavor profile. We’re currently enjoying Sake High for this recipe. |
A wild twist on a classic, this cocktail is perfect for late summer beach days with friends. Ingredients: - 4 oz Douglas Fir + Rosehip Tea Infused Gin - 2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice - 1.5 oz Strawberry-Rhubarb Syrup - Rhubarb Slice (for garnish)
Make it a mocktail by steeping and chilling the Douglas Fir + Rosehip tea instead of infusing gin with it. Instructions: Crew Note: Add a splash of soda water for a bit of fizz… And, hear us out, a pinch of salt! |
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A bright, woodsy twist on classic lemonade. Serve at picnics or summer potlucks. Ingredients: - 4 oz Iced Douglas Fir + Rosehip Tea - 4 oz Fresh Lemonade (or your favorite grab and go) - Rosemary or Fir Sprig (for garnish, if you’re feeling fancy)
Spike if you like with your spirit of choice. Vodka or whiskey is always a classic way to go. Instructions: Crew Note: Swap an oz. of tea for sparkling water for a fizzy version, and spike if you like, with your spirit of choice. |
Herbaceous, minty, and tart- perfect for cooling down. Ingredients: - 4 oz Iced Sage + Mint Tea - 4 oz Ginger Beer - Squeeze of Lemon Or Lime (to taste)
For a classic shandy, swap “ginger” for “light.” ;) Instructions: Crew Note: Garnish with fresh sage and/or mint leaves (or the blossoms if they’re in season!), and/or a wedge of lime. Have fun with it. |
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An antioxidant-rich bevey for chilling around the campfire. It’s grounding, gently sweet, and cooling all at once. Ingredients: - 1 Bag Yerba Santa Botanical Tea - 1/4 tsp Cinnamon (or a 1/2 inch piece of bark) - 8 oz. Water (to steep tea and cinnamon) - 1–3 tsp Local Honey (to taste) - 2–3 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice (to taste)
Swap 1.5 oz of tea for the whisky of choice, adding just before serving. Instructions: Crew Note: We like to simmer the cinnamon bark in the water for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and toss in our Yerba Santa Tea bag, letting everything steep together covered for another 5 minutes. |
Classic Prickly Pear Margarita Pair our bright herbal teas with classic prickly pear syrup and your favorite tequila for a desert-inspired twist to watch the sunset with. Ingredients: - 1 oz Iced Douglas Fir Spring Tip Tea - 1.5 oz Tequila (use your favorite) - 3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice - 3/4 oz Prickly Pear Syrup - 1/8 oz Cointreau (or Triple Sec for a sweeter taste)
Replace the tequila with more iced tea, and the Cointreau with more citrus juice. Mmmm... Experiment with citrus combinations and report back to us! Instructions: Crew Note: This one’s a twist on a recipe from our old summer catalog (circa 2005)—too good not to include! |
Whether you’re sitting on the tailgate watching the sunset, gathered around a BBQ, or daydreaming of tomorrow’s mountain trails from your campsite, these drinks are a celebration of summer in the wild.
A note on brewing tea
Steeping your tea for 3-5 minutes is a good place to start, but we like to recommend playing around with finding your own personal brew time. Experiment with different teas and observe how small adjustments in steeping time can lead to vastly different results. In general (but not a rule) we found that steeping for a shorter amount of time will give you the more delicate, refreshing botanical notes, while steeping longer will bring out richer, earthier, and often sweeter flavors.
The Magic of Real Ingredients
Juniper Ridge's teas aren’t just "flavored" — they are a true embodiment of the wild, crafted from real plants meticulously hand-harvested and processed with care. Ingredients like Douglas Fir, Yerba Santa, and Rosehip are sustainably grown and gathered directly from the landscapes they thrive in. This intentional process imbues our teas with unparalleled complexity, authentic scent, and profound depth that mass-produced, artificially flavored teas simply cannot replicate. Each sip offers a genuine taste and aroma of the plant’s native landscape, bringing the spirit of the outdoors directly into your cup.
Our all-natural, sustainably sourced Botanical Teas don't just refresh; they embody the essence of the outdoors. And when iced and blended just right, they can capture the taste of summer. Grab yourself a box (or two) of our Botanical Teas and get sipping—your next favorite forest-inspired cocktail is just a steep away.
Sip Slow. Breathe Deep. Taste Summer.
