5 Iced Tea Recipes That’ll Keep You Cool This Summer

iced tea recipes
Photo by Adenrele Owoyemi from Pexels

Sparkling water may be the drink of choice when the days are getting longer, and the weather is getting warmer. But, in all honesty, nothing can beat summer heat quite like a tall glass of iced tea – especially if it’s infused with the season’s most refreshing produce (think peaches, strawberries, and even bananas).

The honorary summer drink is also super easy to make, and you can even customize it to match your wellness needs, whether you want to boost your energy or sleep better at night. So, as National Iced Tea Day(1) (June 10th) is fast approaching, we’re busting out our pitchers and getting ready to sip on one these five refreshing iced tea recipes. Cheers!

1. Peach Iced Tea

Sure, “peaches and cream” is a classic dessert combination. But have you ever tried the famous flavor duo in the form of a drink? Honestly, we wonder why we hadn’t tried it so far!

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups water
  • 3 black tea bags
  • 1 cup freeze dried peach slices
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup half-and-half cream
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon slices, for garnishing

Directions:

  1. Add the peach slices and 2 cups of warm water to a bowl and soak for 15 minutes. Once hydrated, transfer the peach slices to a saucepan.
  2. Add the sugar and 1 cup of water to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the peaches are fork-tender (about 20 minutes).
  3. Strain the fruit and chill the syrup in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
  4. Then, bring the remaining water to a boil, remove from the heat, add the black tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the bags and let the tea cool completely.
  5. To serve, add ice to a glass and fill it with tea about ¾ of the way. Add anywhere from 2 to 4 tablespoons of syrup, depending on how sweet you want it. Also, stir in 2 tablespoons of half-and-half cream. Garnish with lemon slices, and enjoy!

2. Strawberry Iced Tea

Made with strawberry syrup and loose-leaf rooibos tea, this iced tea recipe is on the fancier side. But that doesn’t mean you can’t serve it during a backyard BBQ with friends or on a slow weekend afternoon on your patio. PS: It pairs surprisingly well with hamburgers and chicken.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Add the strawberries and 2 cups of warm water to a bowl and soak for 15 minutes. Squeeze away excess liquid and transfer to a small saucepan.
  2. Add the sugar and 1 cup of water to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the strawberries are fork-tender (20 minutes).
  3. Strain the strawberries and chill the syrup in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
  4. Then, bring the remaining water to a boil, remove from the heat, add the rooibos tea, and steep for 5 minutes. Pour the tea through a fine sieve and chill in the fridge until cool.
  5. To serve, add ice to a glass and fill it with tea about ¾ of the way. Add anywhere from 2 to 4 tablespoons of syrup, depending on how sweet you want the tea. Garnish with lemon slices, and enjoy!

3. Banana Iced Tea

Although not as popular as other flavored teas, banana tea(2) is slowly gaining momentum in the health world, mainly due to its sleep-inducing quality. In fact, the fruity tea is said to relax muscles and promote sleep quality thanks to its high levels of potassium, magnesium(3), and tryptophan. So, if you’re looking for a way to unwind after a long summer day, this iced tea recipe could be the answer.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2/3 cup organic crunchy bananas
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • Ice cubes
  • Mint leaves, for garnishing

Directions:

  1. Add all the ingredients to a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and brew for 7 minutes. Strain out the banana pieces, add the vanilla extract, and let cool completely.
  2. Fill a glass with ice and pour the tea. Garnish with mint leaves, and enjoy!

4. Tropical Iced Tea

Mixing the exotic flavors of mango and papaya, this iced tea is the equivalent of a tropical paradise in a glass. Its refreshing taste will conjure up images of the beach and quench your thirst from the very first sip. Add a shot of rum in your glass for a boozier take and say goodbye to your typical summertime sangria.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups boiling water
  • 3 bags of black tea
  • ¼ cup organic crunchy mangos
  • ¼ cup freeze dried papayas
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/3 cup agave nectar
  • Ice cubes
  • Mint leaves, for garnishing
  • 1 shot or run (optional)

Directions:

  1. Add the mangos, papaya, and one cup of warm water to a bowl and soak for 15 minutes.
  2. Transfer the fruit to a juicer and grind until you get about ½ cup of mango-papaya juice. Alternatively, you can transfer the fruit to a food processor, pulse until pureed, and strain the mush through a fine sieve, separating the juice from the pulp.
  3. Add the tea bags and boiling water to the bowl and steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let cool.
  4. Add the agave nectar, mango-papaya, and orange juices to a saucepan and simmer on low for 3 minutes. Pour the mixture into the pitcher and let the tea chill once again.
  5. (Optional Step) Add the rum to the pitcher.
  6. Fill three glasses with ice and divide the tea between them. Garnish with mint leaves, and enjoy!

5. Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea

You may be used to adding blueberries to your smoothies or jams. But, ICYMI, the tiny superfruit can also work wonders on your summertime tea. Pair it with a tad of lemon juice, and you got yourself the most refreshing iced tea of the season.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups freeze dried blueberries
  • 3 black tea bags
  • ¾ cup agave nectar
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice cubes
  • Mint leaves, for garnishing

Directions:

  1. Add the blueberries and 3 cups of warm water to a bowl and soak for 15 minutes. Once hydrated, transfer to a medium saucepan.
  2. Pour the lemon juice and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the mixture through a fine sieve. Press the blueberries with the back of a spoon to squeeze as much juice as possible.
  4. Meanwhile, bring the 4 cups of water to a boil and steep the tea for 5 minutes. Remove the bags and stir in the blueberry-lemon juice and the agave nectar. Let the tea cool completely.
  5. To serve, fill a glass with ice and pour the tea. Garnish with mint leaves, and enjoy!

So, how will you celebrate National Iced Tea Day? Let us know in the comments down below!

References:

  1. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-iced-tea-day-june-10/
  2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/banana-tea#benefits
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23853635/
  4. https://www.alphafoodie.com/how-to-make-peach-iced-tea/
  5. https://www.fifteenspatulas.com/strawberry-iced-tea/
  6. https://mommypotamus.com/banana-tea-for-sleep/
  7. https://wholeandheavenlyoven.com/2014/07/07/tropical-iced-tea/
  8. https://www.archanaskitchen.com/blueberry-and-lemon-iced-tea-recipe