Strawberry Iced Tea | Simple & Refreshing
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This strawberry iced tea is a fruity and ridiculously refreshing summer drink! It’s made from scratch with black (or green) tea and homemade strawberry syrup for a simple but elevated iced tea recipe. Mixed up in a pitcher, this tea is perfectly sweet, full of strawberry flavor, and great for a crowd!
Now that we’re in the dog days of summer, I’ll do just about anything to stay cool. Aside from giving up hot coffee cause you can’t make me. But I digress. I’d do scandalous things to stay cool as the temperatures hit the triple digits this week. Send help. And maybe a pool.
Left to my own devices, my go-to cooling method is a classic drink. A strawberry one because I have to take full advantage of prime strawberry season when I can. My usual go-tos are a strawberry gin smash or a spiked strawberry lemonade.
But this iced tea is quickly becoming a new favorite. It’s refreshing and juicy, plus it’s non-alcoholic which means I can still have a special drink before the socially-acceptable hour of 5pm. Join me, friends.
About this tea
Every once in a while, I get an intense craving for iced tea and I cannot be stopped until I have it. It’s my ideal drink when I want more coffee but know deep down that I’ll get the caffeine shakes if I give in. And while I love a good plain tea, there’s something about strawberry sweet tea that is just so good. Here’s why you’ll love this one!
- The iced tea is so easy to make.
- Customize it with whatever tea you have on hand.
- It’s made in a pitcher, so it’s great for parties and BBQs.
- The syrup adds an intense pop of strawberry flavor.
The ingredients
- Strawberries – fresh or frozen will work in this recipe.
- Sugar – regular granulated white sugar will be the sweetener in the simple syrup.
- Black tea – I like loose-leaf tea but tea bags will work as well.
- Water – for both the syrup and the iced tea.
- Garnish – I like to garnish the teas with fresh strawberries, basil, or mint but this is totally optional!
Variations & substitutions
- Fruit – try raspberries, blueberries, or peaches. Fresh or frozen will both work!
- Tea – use green or herbal tea instead of black. If you don’t have loose-leaf tea, use tea bags instead.
- Sugar – you can also make simple syrup with honey or maple syrup.
Pro tip!
This is a trick I learned in culinary school. For the best flavor, use super ripe strawberries (or whatever fruit you want to use). It will make the simple syrup more intense which will make the fruity flavor really shine through in the strawberry black tea! This is the perfect time to use up some berries that are a little too ripe but still fine to eat.
How to make this recipe
Strawberry simple syrup
- Pour the strawberries, sugar, and water into a small saucepan. Cook the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring often until the sugar dissolves.
- Use a wooden spoon to smash the berries into the syrup. Then, bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 1 minute.
- Let the syrup cool completely and then strain it into a jar.
Iced team & assembly
- Bring the water to a boil and place the loose-leaf tea or tea bags into a heat-safe container.
- Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves and steep for 4-5 minutes. Remove the tea bags or strain the tea into a heat-safe container through a fine-mesh sieve. Cool & refrigerate until cold.
- Add the strawberry syrup to taste. Serve over ice and garnish with strawberries, basil, or mint. Enjoy!
Quick tip!
If you don’t have a tea kettle, you can make the tea on the stove. Just pour the water into a large pot. Then, bring the water to a rolling boil. Remove the pot from the heat and add the loose-leaf tea or tea bags. Steep for 4-5 minutes, strain into a heat-safe container, and refrigerate until chilled.
Storing & make-ahead
To store the leftover iced tea, cover the pitcher and refrigerate. The iced tea will last up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Give the tea a good stir before pouring, because the syrup will sink to the bottom.
You can also make this tea in advance! Just prep the tea and syrup up to 4-5 days before serving. Either mix everything together, cover, and refrigerate for a few days, or mix it together right before serving.
Serving ideas
Not that you need an excuse to make strawberry sweet tea, cause honestly, what’s better in the summertime? But, this is definitely one of my favorite non-alcoholic options to make for parties and get-togethers! Serve this iced tea at:
- BBQs or potlucks
- Beach days or pool parties
- Bridal showers or rehearsal dinners
- Summer dinner parties
- Camping or lake days
Quick tip!
If you’re making this recipe for a crowd, serve the syrup and tea separately. Since everyone has different preferences on sweetness, your guests can just add as much syrup as they’d like to their own glasses of strawberry black tea!
Tips & tricks
- Use a fine-mesh sieve for the syrup and tea. It’s the best way to remove tea leaves and tiny strawberry seeds!
- Make sure to bring the water to a boil. Boiled water will bring out all of the flavors in the tea leaves without making it bitter.
- Don’t over-steep the tea. Otherwise, it might end up bitter. 4-5 minutes should do the trick!
- Add a splash of lemonade for a strawberry Arnold Palmer. Either homemade or store-bought lemonade will work!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I double this recipe?
Totally! It’s super easy to double or triple this iced tea if you’re serving a large crowd. If you don’t have a big enough pitcher, serve the tea in a punch bowl instead.
Can I make the syrup with frozen strawberries?
Yep! Fresh or frozen strawberries will both work. Just try to use super ripe strawberries for the most strawberry flavor.
What kind of tea should I use?
I usually use black tea but you can also make strawberry green tea or use your favorite herbal tea like Rooibos or chamomile! I like to go to my local tea shop and let them help me pick out something. But, your favorite tea should work!
Does this tea have caffeine in it?
It depends on what kind of tea you use. Most black teas and green teas have caffeine in them, but herbal teas are usually caffeine-free. You can also use caffeine-free black or green tea if you’d like!
More strawberry drinks
Frozen Aperol Spritz with Strawberries
Strawberry Rosé Sangria with Lemon
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Strawberry Iced Tea
Ingredients
Strawberry Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sliced ripe strawberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Iced Tea & Assembly
- 8 cups water
- 1/4 cup loose-leaf black tea (or 8 tea bags)
- Sliced strawberries, basil, or mint, for garnish
Equipment
- Tea kettle (optional)
- Large pitcher
Instructions
Strawberry Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar, and water. Cook over medium heat, using a wooden spoon to smash the berries with the back of a spoon.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool completely.
- Once cooled, pour the syrup into a jar through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the pulp and seeds. Discard the pulp and set the syrup aside for later.
Iced Tea & Assembly
- Pour the water into a tea kettle and bring it to a boil.
- Add the loose-leaf tea or tea bags to a heat-safe container. Pour the boiling water over the tea and steep for 4-5 minutes.
- Strain the loose tea into a pitcher through a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags. Let the tea cool, and then refrigerate until chilled.
- To assemble the tea, add 1/2 cup of the simple syrup. Taste and add more if desired.
- Serve the tea over ice and garnish with sliced strawberries, basil, or mint. Enjoy!
Notes
xo Sara Lynn
Song of the day – Everlasting Arms by Vampire Weekend
