RECIPE: FORTITUDE

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup (120 g) white sugar
• 1 lemon, finely zested and juiced
• 1 Tbsp (6 g) lemon zest
• 2 Tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
• 1 Grapefruit, finely zested and juiced
• 3 Tbsp (18 g) grapefruit zest
• ½ cup (125 ml) grapefruit juice
• ½ cup (120 ml) water 
• 1 tsp (3 g) green tea leaves
• ¼ cup (6 g) lemongrass stalk, finely chopped
• 1 cup (240 ml) lychee juice, fresh or preserved
• 1 Tbsp (15 ml) rice wine vinegar
• 3¾ cups (900 ml) sparkling water

DIRECTIONS

Citrus-Infused Sugar (yields ¾ cup or 144 g)

1. In a small freezer bag, combine sugar, lemon zest and grapefruit zest.
2. Squeeze out air, seal, and let sit at room temperature for 6 hours.

Lemongrass Green Tea (yields ½ cup or 120 ml)

1. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, and add green tea and lemongrass. Cover and let infuse for 15 minutes.
2. Strain out solids with a fine sieve and let sit to cool.

Fortitude Mix (yields 2⅛ cups or 510 ml)

1. In a large bowl, combine citrus-infused sugar and lemongrass green tea. (Ladle some tea into the sugar bag and agitate to get the last bits out.)
2. Add lychee juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, and rice wine vinegar. Stir until all remaining sugar has dissolved.
3. Strain through a fine sieve into a bottle, pressing to release more liquid, and discard the solids. 
4. Seal and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

Per Chilled Serving

• 5 oz (150 ml) sparkling water
• 2½  oz (75 ml) Fortitude Mix, chilled
• 1 round, thin slice of lemon

1. In a 12 oz wine glass filled with ice, pour in sparkling water, then the Fortitude Mix.
2. Gently stir and garnish with a lemon slice, floating on top.

Per Hot Serving

• 3 oz (90 ml) Fortitude Mix
• 4 oz (120 ml) water, hot
• 1 round, thin slice of lemon

1. Pour Fortitude mix into a teacup, add hot water, and stir to combine. 
2. Garnish with a lemon slice, floating on top.