Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes Perfect for Summer Sipping
Iced tea is the go-to drink for just about everyone when the weather warms up. (If you live in the South, it's likely something you drink 365 days a year.) Whether you prefer a grassy green tea or sweet-as-a-peach southern black iced tea, there's no denying the fact that iced tea is a cooling, flavorful beverage ideal for summertime sipping.
Take a peek at your local farmers' market and you'll see an endless supply of fresh herbs, tart rhubarb, juicy watermelon, peaches the color of a sunset, and succulent berries. Use whatever is in season as add-ins to a favorite iced tea recipe. These ingredients will spark new life in an otherwise simple herbal blend or your preferred black tea.
Among our favorite recipes are these two creative twists on a classic Arnold Palmer: Iced Watermelon-Lemon Tea uses watermelon juice to sweeten the black tea and lemonade combo, while our Out-of-the-Ordinary Arnold Palmers relies on fresh tangerine juice and jasmine pearls for a blend of citrus and earthy notes.
In addition to these inspiring flavors, we're sharing tips for making tea so that the iced version doesn't taste watered down. When brewing your tea for this tasty beverage, you'll want to create a tea with a more pronounced flavor than if you were drinking it hot. Be sure to make a big batch of one of these iced tea recipes for any summer entertaining—it's just the right kind of drink to have on hand for potlucks, picnics, and holiday parties. Or just make a batch so you can enjoy glass after glass when you relax on the porch. Here are some of our favorite iced tea recipes for summer.
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Lemongrass-Mint Iced Tea
Lemongrass has a more assertive citrus flavor than sweet lemon, but it's oh so refreshing when paired with cool mint and honey in this caffeine-free tea. The key to getting that bright flavor to pop is letting all of the ingredients steep overnight.
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Out-of-the-Ordinary Arnold Palmers
The clink-clink of ice in an Arnold Palmer—the drink that joins refreshing lemonade and iced tea—can be heard anywhere from backyard barbecues to beach picnics. Try these two not-so-standard renditions, one with jasmine-tea pearls, which bestow floral notes on sweet tangerine juice, and the other with juicy strawberries and floral hibiscus to create a new jewel-toned spin on the classic.
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Lemony Spiked Sweet Tea
Kicked up with golden rum, this sweet tea is an invigorating take on a longtime Southern classic.
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Hibiscus-Mint Iced Tea
Apple juice tames the tartness of hibiscus tea, while fresh mint adds a cooling note.
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Vegan Coconut Thai Iced Tea
Turmeric gives this drink its orange-ish color and star anise pods add warm spice. Top it all off with creamy sweetened condensed coconut milk and you may just need to make two pitches.
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Mint-Ginger Iced Tea
Using fresh ginger, rather than dried and ground ginger, creates mellow, spicy notes in this crisp iced tea. It's the ultimate vibrant, make-ahead beverage.
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Hibiscus-Honey Iced Tea
Lime juice adds a lively zing to gently sweetened hibiscus tea. Spike this concoction with rum for a spirited addition to your next party.
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Chamomile Cooler
Chamomile and lemon-flavored herbs create a delicate, delightful tea. We used lemon verbena, which lends a pleasantly sweet flavor. But you can also substitute lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon basil, or lemon-scented geranium for equally tasty variations to this light, soothing blend.
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Raspberry-Rose-Hip Iced Tea
Fruit juice is a great way to sweeten iced tea brews naturally. The raisins in this recipe also add a natural sweetness. For an easy berry variation, try blackberry leaves with blueberry juice.
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Hibiscus and Ginger Iced Tea
This refreshing rendition of iced tea is brewed from zesty hibiscus, which is made from coppery-red hibiscus leaves and is naturally caffeine free. Ginger syrup and fresh lemon juice add layers of flavor.
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Peach and Blackberry Iced Tea
This tea is sweet as can be thanks to fresh peaches and tart blueberries, both of which are in season right now. The fruit adds a succulent brightness to plain black tea.
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Iced Watermelon-Lemon Tea
We didn't think an Arnold Palmer could be any more delicious—then we added fresh watermelon juice. We think it makes our favorite summery drink brighter and better. Give this recipe a try and see if you agree!
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Rhubarb Iced Tea
This caffeine-free concoction consists solely of simmered spring rhubarb, which then gets strained and sweetened to tame its tartness.
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Herbal Sun Tea
Lemon verbena or mint enhances a jug of rooibos tea, perfect for a summer picnic.