Forget matcha, there’s a new way to drink iced tea that’s annoyingly good

Would you try this? (Picture: Metro/Robertson Buckhaven) Matcha’s everywhere; have you noticed? What started as a niche beverage has taken over coffee shop and dessert menus across the UK; you can even order it at Greggs. But for those of us who prefer our drinks to be a little less green, there’s another iced tea fizzing its way across social media, known as Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea. And the best bit? It doesn’t require any ceremonial grade powders, and there are no whisks in sight. All you need is a bottle of Sprite and a few tea bags. What is Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea? The drink combines Sprite and Iced Tea (Picture: Robertson Buckhaven) There are certain things you shouldn’t put in a bottle of Sprite, and until recently I’d have said tea bags were one of them. But a viral TikTok with more than 20 million views gave me pause. In the clip, Hisham Raus showed off the internet’s new favourite drink, the Hong Kong Iced Tea Sprite, and honestly, it looked pretty good. Put simply, the beverage is essentially black tea cold-brewed into Sprite. But what’s really interesting is that this isn’t just a random drink that’s been dreamed up by TikTok. Hong Kong has a storied history with iced-lemon-tea culture. The classic drink, often known as dong ling cha, is made with strongly brewed black tea, like Ceylon, fresh lemon slices, sugar, and plenty of ice. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. It’s traditionally served in Hong Kong diners, which are locally known as cha cheen teng. Though you’re unlikely to find the viral Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea served there, which is the internet’s riff on the popular drink. Instead of actually brewing tea, sweetening it, and chilling it, the Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea does several jobs in one. It’s essentially the lazy person’s drink for those who can’t be bothered to brew tea. And, of course, social media is here for it. And so am I. Not only that, but Sprite has even got on board. It launched its very own ‘Sprite + Tea’ drink (Spritea), which included a Hong Kong launch. That’s one way of stopping 7Up from getting in on the act, I suppose. How to make the viral Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea 500ml Sprite (or Sprite Zero) 2-3 teabags (whichever brand you like, I’m using Yorkshire Tea) A circular slice of lemon Ice To make it, simply open the bottle of Sprite and poke the teabags inside the bottle. Screw the lid back on, slowly turn the bottle upside down a couple of times, and put it in the fridge. Depending on how strong you like it, leave it for anything from an hour to overnight. You want something that tastes of tea, but ideally doesn’t vacuum-seal your lips to your gums. To serve, remove the teabags and place the lemon slice at the base of your glass. Fill with medium-sized ice cubes, then pour the Sprite and tea mixture over the top and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You can even garnish with a lemon slice if you want to treble-down on citrus. Would you try Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea? Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. Does it actually taste good? Annoyingly, yes. I was determined not to like it, which I know is prejudiced. I approached the Hong Kong Sprite Iced Tea with roughly the same level of optimism I have for airport wine. Not much. But it just works. On its own, Sprite is tooth-rattlingly sweet, and at the opposite end, tea can be bitter and drying. Combine them, and they rein in each other’s worst attributes, like any good partnership. Add a cheeky squeeze of fresh lemon, and you elevate it further, away from just being a bottle of pop with a bag of PG Tips floating around in it. The drink tastes annoyingly good (Picture: Robertson Buckhaven) It actually tastes less like Sprite than you’d imagine. In fact, served in a decent highball glass, filled to the brim with filtered ice cubes (and not the small, melty kind), close your eyes and you could almost imagine you were in some trendy bar drinking a spritzy, citrusy mocktail. I didn’t start on a great footing, in that I bought a 500ml bottle of 7Up by accident. But once I’d got the right ingredients together, it was easy to build and tasted extremely refreshing. I’d definitely try different versions with various kinds of tea. I’m particularly interested in how Earl Grey would taste in this drink, and I think the bergamot could work well with the citrus in the Sprite. And now I have a bottle of 7Up in my fridge; I’ll probably test that too. Deals of the Day I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale And before you ask, of course I made a version that included a double shot of vodka. This isn’t my first rodeo… Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: The everyday snack that makes Gen Z think you’re old Arrow MORE: Workers are taking stress leave due to noisy offices — but don’t call them snowflakes Arrow MORE: Everyone wants to be a nerd now — here’s how to claim the title for yourself The Slice Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.