PG Tipple

PG tips creates a ‘royal-tea cup’ cocktail to celebrate Britain’s newest arrival
To celebrate the birth of the latest heir apparent to the British throne, PG tips has developed a new take on the traditional cuppa to wet the baby's head – a 'royal-tea cup' cocktail.

Working with Rebecca Seal, drinks expert from Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, the Fruit Cup style cocktail takes inspiration straight from the royal wedding day to combine details from the pair's nuptials with quintessentially English ingredients, resulting in a rich and refreshing tipple packed full of Britishness and served in dainty tea cups.

Ingredients in a PG tips 'royal-tea cup' include:
- Strawberries – as a major crop in Cambridgeshire, these summery English berries are perfect to include as part of a royal celebration
- Rose petals - two new rose bushes were named after the happy couple and planted in the grounds of Windsor Castle and sugar roses were used to decorate their eight-tier wedding cake
- Sparkling wine – English sparkling wine was served to guests at the bride and groom's wedding breakfast
- PG tips The Rich One – like red wine, all tea contains tannins, which gives drinks a wonderfully rich flavour. We've used PG tips The Rich One for its full-bodied taste
- Gin – a quintessentially British ingredient and, according to Rebecca Seal, the botanicals used to make gin (like juniper) perfectly complement the flavours in tea
- Cucumber - from a dainty finger sandwich at traditional afternoon tea
- Apple juice - from the fruit trees of the great British orchards
- Elderflower – from the hedgerows that line England's green and pleasant land
- Mint - from English country gardens

A 'royal-tea cup' cocktail can be made either with or without alcohol and is perfect for a sunny garden party, to have with afternoon tea or as an aperitif before a barbecue.

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To enjoy a very British punch, the below recipe makes 10-12 teacups or 6-8 longer drinks -

Ingredients:
6 British strawberries with the core removed
A handful of fresh mint leaves, ripped
100ml freshly boiled water
1 PG tips The Rich One teabag
75g sugar
50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 ½ lemons)
½ an unwaxed lemon's rind, peeled and chopped
15ml elderflower cordial
100ml English apple juice
200-400ml gin
350ml soda water or sparkling water
350ml English sparkling wine (or cava)

For non-alcoholic punch:
Omit the gin and sparkling wine and use 150ml apple juice and 550ml soda water instead

Garnish:
Lots of fresh ice in big chunks
Slices of cucumber skin
Rose petals
Slices of strawberries

Method:
Step 1: In a pestle and mortar, roughly crush the strawberries and mint leaves together

Step 2: Mix the crushed mint and strawberries with the hot water, PG tips The Rich One teabag, sugar, lemon juice and rind then stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Leave to stand for 8-10 minutes, then strain, reserving the syrup

Step 3: In a large bowl or jug, mix the syrup with the elderflower, apple juice and gin to taste. (The mix can be chilled for a few hours at this point until ready to serve.)

Step 4: When ready to serve, add large blocks of ice, the soda water and sparkling wine. Stir gently to combine

Step 5: To serve, line teacups with a sliver of cucumber skin, shaved using a potato peeler, then fill the cup with fresh ice. Serve using a ladle

Step 6: Garnish with a red rose petal and a slice of strawberry in the shape of a heart