Your Summer Guide to Iced Tea: Tips and Recipes for Everyone

The weather is warming up and summer is almost here! And that means it’s the time of year when we reach for a delicious glass of tea to help cool us down.

Whether you prefer it sweet, unsweetened, with a hint of lemon, or infused with a burst of fruit flavors, there’s an iced tea recipe out there for everyone. Here are some tips for brewing that perfect pitcher as well as some recipes for teas that will tickle your tongue and provide some sweet relief from the summer heat.

Choose Your Tea

The first step in making iced tea is choosing your tea. Black, green, white, oolong, and herbal teas can all make delicious iced teas. Black tea is the most common choice for iced tea in the United States, though green tea is also quite popular. Herbal teas, such as hibiscus or chamomile, can make a refreshing caffeine-free option.

Brew Your Tea

When brewing tea for iced tea, you want to make sure that it’s strong enough to stand up to the ice. A good rule of thumb is to use one and a half times the amount of tea you would normally use for hot tea. For example, if you have a 32-ounce pitcher, you’ll likely want to add about 3-4 tablespoons of loose tea (a standard mug holds about 6 fluid ounces).

Brew your tea in hot water, then let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating. This will prevent your tea from becoming cloudy.

Add Some Sweetener (if you want)

If you prefer your iced tea sweet, add your sweetener while the tea is still hot. This allows the sweetener to dissolve evenly. You can use honey or even a sugar substitute like agave. Just remember that while you can always add more, you can never remove it once it’s added. For this reason, we suggest starting with a little a little at a time and tasting it to adjust the sweetness level for you preferences.

Amp up the Flavor

This is where you can get creative. Add a slice of lemon, lime, or orange for a citrusy twist. Or go for some fresh herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary to add an interesting herbal note. For a fruity iced tea, add a splash of fruit juice or some fresh berries.

Our Favorite Iced Tea Recipes

Here are a couple of simple iced tea recipes to get you started:

1. Classic Lemon Iced Tea: Brew 4 tablespoons of black tea leaves in 4 cups of hot water. Stir in 1/4 cup of agave or your choice of sweetener until dissolved. Add the juice of 2 lemons and chill.
2. Minty Green Iced Tea: Brew 4 tablespoons of green tea leaves in 4 cups of hot water with a handful of fresh mint leaves. Stir in honey to taste and chill.
3. Hibiscus & Peach Iced Tea: Brew 4  tablespoons of White Peach Passion
   in 4 cups of hot water. Stir in 1/4 cup of agave or your choice of sweetener until dissolved. Add 1 cup of fruit of your choice and chill.

Remember, the best iced tea is the one that you enjoy. So feel free to experiment with different teas, flavors, fruit, and sweeteners until you find your perfect blend. Happy brewing!

The perfect glass of iced tea starts with high-quality tea blends. Check out all the different tea flavors we offer and start brewing up refreshment today!