Everyone's Putting Tea Bags In Their Sprite. Here's Why.
In 2023, if you regularly frequent any of the big social media platforms, there’s a high chance that you’ve felt as though you have “seen it all” at one point or another. This past summer on TikTok alone we saw everything from adult Capri Suns to a McDonald's Animal-Style menu hack — and those are both just the tip of the iceberg.
As humanity collectively dives deeper into the abyss of the TikTok algorithm, we are constantly presented with new and unusual ways to navigate our lives — some useful and some utterly nonsensical. But eventually, a little bit of digital cream always rises to the top. One of the most recent examples, a delicious refreshment known as a Lipton & Sprite, is a hack you should seriously consider getting behind.
After witnessing Jordan Howlett’s glowing review of the viral Lipton & Sprite creation, I immediately made a mental note to grab the ingredients on my next visit to the grocery store. If you're already a fan of the lemon-lime bliss that is a cold glass of Sprite, this is your cue to keep reading.
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Ingredients for the Lipton & Sprite Drink
Anyone who knows me knows that there are few things I love more in life than a short list of ingredients. For this drink, all you’ll need is one 20-ounce bottle of Sprite, two Lipton Black Tea bags and a single lemon. That's it!
Courtesy of Nathan Hutsenpiller
How to Make the Lipton & Sprite Drink
Start by pouring a little bit of the Sprite out of the bottle first to avoid a possible bubble over when inserting the tea bags. Open the bottle and take one tea bag, fold it in half lengthwise and twist it into the opening of the bottle. Once the first tea bag is inside the bottle, repeat the step with a second tea bag before closing the cap tightly.
Next, flip the bottle upside down and leave it for at least 10-20 minutes to let the bags steep. You can let the bags steep for longer if desired, though it's not necessary. When the Sprite turns golden brown, you're good to go.
Fill a glass cup with ice and squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the cup. Add a slice of lemon to the glass and then pour in the Sprite mixture. Bottoms up!
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What I Thought of the Lipton & Sprite Drink
As is the case for almost every social media hack I come across, my immediate instinct was to dismiss this recipe. But it only took a few seconds to consider the fact that I love Sprite and I especially love Lipton tea. So really, what wasn't to like?
After the first sip, I was instantly sold. Who knew that these two flavors would pair so perfectly together, and why can’t I order this as a mixed drink at my local bar? Adding in the extra lemon juice helped immensely, and the best part of all was that the Sprite already contains more sugar than you really need, so no extra sugar is necessary to sweeten the maltiness of the black tea. I will definitely be keeping this hack in the back of my head for when I’m craving a Sprite but also want to be a little extra too.
Courtesy of Nathan Hutsenpiller
Tips for Making the Lipton & Sprite Drink
1. Switch it up a bit. Word around the comment section is that this hack also works really well with ginger ale, which makes a lot of sense. This is the perfect kind of recipe to experiment with. If you think your favorite soda would taste good with black tea, give it a shot!
2. Turn it into a mixed drink. Once you find the combination of flavors you like most, try spiking it with your favorite alcohol. Commenters suggested rum, gin or even whiskey for this, but the choice is absolutely yours. Add some bitters to the mix as well if you really want to take it up another level.
Try the hack: Lipton & Sprite
Up next: So Long, Added Sugar! Sip on These 16 Healthy Sodas and Soda Alternatives Instead