Under scorching summer heat, nothing can beat the refreshing sip of a chilled iced tea!
Are you a fan of iced tea in summer? Let's not settle for the same old flavours when you can enjoy it numerous delightful ways. Whether you love fruity, herbal, or tangy flavours, following are some easy homemade iced tea recipes to cool you down in style, quench your thirst as well as keep you refreshed.
Before exploring recipes, let’s discuss about the benefits of homemade iced teas than store-bought versions.
Healthier Alternative: Without added preservatives, artificial sweeteners, or excessive sugar, iced tea is much healthier than commercially available ones.
Customizable: While preparing in house, you can adjust the flavours, sweetness, and strength based on your preference.
Cost-Effective: You just need a few easily available ingredients to make multiple servings at a fraction of the cost.
Let’s explore some creative iced tea twists that you can easily prepare at home!
You need following ingredients to prepare this cool beverage.
2 green tea bags
1 lemon (sliced)
1 orange (sliced)
5-6 fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons honey (optional)
4 cups water
Ice cubes
Instructions: Begin with boiling 4 cups of water and steep the green tea bags for at least 3-5 minutes. After removing the tea bags, let it cool for couple of minutes. Now, add lemon, orange slices and mint leaves. Stir it with a teaspoon of honey followed by 1-2 hours of refrigeration. Now, you are ready to serve over ice and enjoy.
To prepare this sweet and earthy combination, you need following ingredients.
2 black tea bags
1 ripe peach (sliced)
4-5 fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
4 cups water
Ice cubes
Instructions: Steep black tea bags in hot water for 4-5 minutes. Once it becomes cool, blend half of the peach slices with honey or maple syrup. Now, add the peach puree and basil leaves. Keep it in refrigerator for an hour before serving.
To enjoy this tangy-flavoured, antioxidant-rich tea you need following ingredients:
2 hibiscus tea bags
½ cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup
4 cups water
Ice cubes
Instructions: Begin with boiling the water and steep hibiscus tea bags for at least 5 minutes. After cooling it, muddle the mixed berries in a bowl. Now, stir in the berries, lemon juice, and honey and keep the combination in fridge. After an hour, it's ready to serve.
To make this classic iced tea with exotic twist you need following ingredients.
2 black tea bags
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ginger powder
2 tablespoons honey
4 cups water
Ice cubes
Instructions: Boil water and add tea bags along with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Remove the tea bag after 5-7 minutes and stir it with honey. After making it cool pour over ice and serve with a cinnamon stick.
To prepare this hydrating and soothing tea, you need following ingredients:
2 green tea bags
½ cucumber (thinly sliced)
2 tablespoons fresh aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon honey
4 cups water
Ice cubes
Instructions: Steep green tea bags in hot water for at least 3 minutes. After letting it cool for a few minutes, blend aloe vera gel with honey and mix it into the prepared tea. Don't forget to add cucumber slice before keeping it inside the fridge. After an hour, it's ready to serve.
(Credit: Instagram/@littleloucooks)
Always use fresh ingredients like fresh fruits and herbs to enhance the flavour. Never over-steep the tea as it can make the taste bitter. It's wise to use natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave rather than sugar. If you are expecting guests, prepare the tea beforehand as keeping the tea for 1-2 hours in fridge is mandatory to enhance the flavours.
Try out these above-mentioned recipes, experiment with different flavours and sip your way to summer bliss!
