Oolong Verjus Martini
A dry, wine-like zero-proof martini built on roasted oolong, verjus, and gum arabic for tannin, acidity, and structural weight.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Strong roasted oolong tea
- 0.75 oz White verjus
- 0.25 oz Dry honey syrup
- 0.25 oz Gum arabic syrup
- 3 drops Vegetable glycerin
Story
This drink came directly from the request to “add some body” — the conversation pivoted from basic mocktails into structure-driven construction. Tea tannin, verjus acidity, and gum arabic viscosity became the framework for mimicking the dryness and weight of a spirit-forward martini without alcohol.
Method
- Stir all ingredients over ice until well chilled and properly diluted.
- Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass.
- Express lemon oil over the surface and discard the peel.
Notes
- Strong example of tea-as-spirit architecture: the oolong is doing the structural work a base spirit normally would.
- Verjus provides wine-like acidity instead of the citrus juice you’d reach for in a standard sour.