This ‘White Lotus’ Cocktail Will Transport You To Thailand

There’s something about The White Lotus that keeps us wanting more. What is it about the lavish resort that, despite murder, crime, and utter chaos, that makes us secretly wish we could book a ticket and secure a reservation?  Is it the customer service? The bespoke spa services? Some may argue it’s the tone set by the ambiance of the various locations of the show. 

In season one, we were tempted by the heavenly backdrop of Hawaii, and in the second, by seductive Italy. This season, we find ourselves in the striking islands of Thailand. Among other things, this season centers around wellness and all the iterations of what that means. Perhaps, ironically, that is why every food scene showcases guests constantly biting into perfectly ripe local fruits. So, why not cozy up on Sunday night to watch The White Lotus with a fruity Thai-flavored beverage that can further transport us to Thailand along with this season’s dubious guests?

This White Lotus-inspired cocktail, based on refreshing iced teas for warmer weather, could be served as a cocktail or a mocktail. It utilizes black tea, either caffeinated or decaffeinated, mango juice, and coconut milk, flavors present in many classic Thai dishes. Feel free to use sweetened condensed coconut milk if you can find it, but reduce some of the sugar in the recipe if you include it. As you sip this Thai-inspired drink, you may feel a little closer to The WhiteLotus’s guests, but hopefully without all of the added drama.

Thai Islands Iced Tea

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 20 minutesTotal time:1 hour 50 minutesServings:4 servings

Ingredients

• 4 whole star anise pods
• 6 whole cardamom pods
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 4 bags of black tea 
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 cup of mango juice or puree
• 1 cup coconut milk (see note)
• Ice for serving

Instructions

1. Using a kettle or a large pot, boil 6 cups of water. Place the star anise pods, cardamom pods, vanilla, and black tea bags in a heat-safe bowl. 
2. Once the water is boiling, pour the water over the ingredients in the bowl. Add the vanilla and the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let the ingredients steep for 20 minutes.
3. Remove the tea bags. Let the mixture cool or add ice, remembering that this will slightly dilute it. You could also make ice cubes out of the mango juice in advance and cool the mixture with those. 
4. Add the coconut milk and taste for sweetness, adding sugar as needed. Serve over ice or chill in the refrigerator.

Notes

• If using sweetened coconut milk, reduce the sugar to 2 tablespoons

Keywords:Cocktail, drink, Drinks, Mocktail, Pop Culture

• Cocktail
• drink
• Drinks
• Mocktail
• Pop Culture