A Taste of Summer: Canton’s Zero-Waste Iced Earl Grey Lemonade
As the days stretch longer and London hums with the gentle rhythm of summer, we’re raising a glass to the season with something fresh, fragrant and joyfully sustainable: Canton’s Zero-Waste Iced Earl Grey Lemonade.
It’s light, zesty and just the right side of sweet, crafted with intention. At One Aldwych, we believe that luxury and sustainability go hand in hand, and this iced tea is more than just refreshing; it’s a small expression of our larger promise to tread lightly on the planet.
Canton is the tea quietly elevating every cup served at One Aldwych; from breakfast in Indigo, to a mid-morning pick-me-up in The Lobby Bar, to the elegance of our afternoon tea. Sourced with care and curiosity, their teas come from small farms, wild tea gardens and ancient trees, with a focus on flavour, sustainability and transparent relationships with growers. Canton’s commitment to quality and low-impact packaging makes it a natural fit for our ethos, where every detail, right down to the tea leaves, tells a thoughtful story.
The Canton Iced Earl Grey Lemonade starts with an often-overlooked ingredient: lemon husks. Rather than letting them go to waste, we use them to create a beautiful lemon oleo saccharum, a fragrant syrup extracted naturally over 24 hours. It’s a way of honouring the whole fruit, capturing every last drop of citrusy brightness without waste.
This kind of thoughtful reuse is exactly the kind of action that sits at the heart of One Aldwych’s ethos. As the first and only five-star hotel in London to become B Corp Certified™, we’ve committed to reducing our environmental impact in every way, from energy usage to water conservation and, yes, how we think about ingredients in our kitchens and bars.
To the lemon syrup, we add freshly brewed hot Canton Earl Grey tea, mixing thoroughly to combine the flavours whilst the sugar dissolves. The result is a sunshine-hued base that’s topped with soda and served over ice, finished with a twist of fresh lemon and a sprig of mint.
Whether you’re shaking up a batch at home for hosting a group of friends in the garden or simply for some “you time”, it’s a drink that brings together British summer flavour and zero-waste innovation, as well as a little bit of elegance. Perfect for a garden party, a rooftop gathering or just a quiet moment in the sun.
Make it at Home: Canton Zero-Waste Earl Grey Lemonade
Serves 20 (250ml each)
Ingredients
– 1kg Lemon husks
– 500g Caster sugar
– 50ml Fresh lemon juice
– 500g Water
– 12g Canton Earl Grey tea
Method
- Combine the lemon husks, sugar and lemon juice in a vacuum-sealed bag.
- Leave to infuse for 24 hours, then strain.
- Brew the Earl Grey in boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Mix the brewed tea with the lemon syrup (equal parts) and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Cool, decant and refrigerate. Serve by mixing 50ml of lemonade base with 200ml soda water.
- Garnish with mint and lemon slices.
At One Aldwych, sustainability is in our DNA. This iced tea is a small yet satisfying example of that commitment, delicious proof that less waste can mean more flavour.
Drink well, waste less. Here’s to sipping smarter.
