Iced tea is a refreshing and enticing little pick-me-up, perfect for sipping during the warmer months, whether as a morning energizer or as a cooling break in between daily garden work.
You can find a variety of iced tea flavors lining store shelves, but most of them are, unfortunately, spoiled by additives and artificial ingredients.
The most genuine and pure iced tea is still the one you make yourself. And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to prepare, and you can make a larger amount of tea all at once to enjoy over several days.
Loose Leaf Tea or Tea Bags?
When it comes to flavor, it really doesn’t make a huge difference whether you use tea bags or loose tea. The taste remains mostly the same. However, I personally always prefer to make my tea without the little bags whenever possible. I just feel better knowing I’m being a bit kinder to my body by avoiding the potential microplastics or unnecessary processing that might come with the tea bags.
What Kind of Tea to Use for Iced Tea
One of the biggest advantages of making something yourself is the freedom it gives you. You get to make all the choices, tailor everything to your own preferences and make many different teas.
The classic iced tea is made using black tea or green tea, but truthfully—does it really matter what kind of tea you use? Use the one you enjoy most!
Black tea has a bold, slightly bitter flavor that adds a deep, rich tone to iced tea. But keep in mind that both black and green teas contain caffeine, which may be stimulating for many people.
If you’re looking to avoid caffeine altogether, fruit and berry teas are absolutely excellent choices. In fact, fruity teas might be the very best option for children, offering flavor and color without any added buzz.
Herbal teas are also delicious and often suitable for kids as well. These are especially beneficial if you’re looking for something with a health or wellness angle. A herbal blend can be a lovely way to support your body gently and naturally.
Adding Flavors to Your Iced Tea
Iced tea is beloved all over the world, and in different regions, people add their own little touches to make it better or more unique. For instance, some versions include milk, others call for large amounts of sugar for a very sweet tea, and in some places, it’s served lukewarm instead of ice-cold.
In our region, the most popular way to enjoy iced tea is with lemon. And to be honest, I think that’s my personal favorite as well. That said, you can absolutely get creative and add fresh mint, a handful of berries or fresh fruit.
To bring out the flavors, it’s a good idea to add at least a small amount of sweetener. I usually sweeten my tea with honey or unrefined cane sugar. However, other options like maple syrup also work really well and can add an interesting depth of flavor.
Storing Your Iced Tea
Homemade iced tea keeps well in the refrigerator for quite a long time. Just make sure to check that no mold forms on the surface.
If you’ve made a strong concentrate and plan to dilute it later, you can even preserve it in jars and store it on a shelf, much like you would jam or syrup.
Ideas and Tips
You can make a larger batch of strong tea concentrate in one go, then dilute it with cold water whenever you want to enjoy a glass of iced tea. That way, preparing iced tea becomes quick and effortless. Just pour, mix, and enjoy.
FAQ
Is it normal for black tea to get lighter after adding lemon?
Yes, this is completely normal! When you add lemon to black tea, it often becomes noticeably lighter in color. There’s nothing wrong with the tea—everything is just as it should be.
Why did my green tea turn bitter?
Green tea has bitter taste if the leaves are added to water that’s too hot. For the best results, green tea should be brewed at a maximum temperature of 90°C (194°F).
Ingredients
Black tea leaves
Water
Lemon
Raw sugar or honey
Making Iced Tea with Black Loose-Leaf Tea and Lemon
Start by either bringing your black tea leaves to a boil or pouring hot water over them. Let the tea steep for a few minutes. But be careful not to let it steep for too long—if it sits too long, the tea may turn overly bitter, and the flavor will become less pleasant.
If you’re using green tea instead, be especially careful not to exceed a water temperature of 90°C (194°F), as mentioned earlier.
Let the tea cool down until it’s warm to the touch—around body temperature. Then add honey. It’s important to avoid adding honey to very hot tea, as that can reduce its beneficial properties. While it won’t become harmful, some of the good stuff in honey breaks down in high heat. If you don’t mind that, feel free to add it earlier for convenience.
Now it’s time to add lemon juice. For extra visual appeal and a refreshing look, you can also throw in a lemon wedge.
Pour your steeped tea into a large pitcher and top it off with cold water.
Before serving, chill the tea in the refrigerator for at least an hour so it becomes nice and cold. Alternatively, add a handful of ice cubes when serving for instant refreshment and extra cold tea.
As I mentioned earlier, let your creativity shine when making iced tea. Experiment with different ingredients and combinations to suit your mood or the season. One thing is certain—you’ll end up with a wonderfully cooling and refreshing glass of iced tea, no matter what!
Inspiration: Iced Tea Flavor Combinations
Here are a few different combinations of teas to spark your imagination and help you craft the perfect iced tea:
1. Classic Black Tea with Lemon
- Black tea leaves
- Fresh lemon juice
- Honey or unrefined cane sugar
2. Iced Green Tea with Mint
- Green tea leaves
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lime juice
- Honey or unrefined cane sugar
3. Rosehip Berry Tea
- Dried rosehips
- Mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
- Honey or unrefined cane sugar
4. Unsweetened Iced Tea with Peach
- Black or green tea leaves
- Fresh peach juice or peach slices
- Mint leaves
I hope this iced tea recipe gave you some great ideas for making your own iced tea! You really don’t need much to prepare a delicious iced tea, just pick a tea type, boil water and use good leaves.
How to Make Loose-Leaf Iced Tea - the Perfect Recipe
Iced tea is a refreshing and enticing little pick-me-up, perfect for sipping during the warmer months—whether as a morning energizer or as a cooling break in between daily garden work.
Ingredients
- 8 tsp. of black tea leaves
- 200 g of lemon juice (4-5 medium lemons)
- 0,5 gal. of water
- 8 tbsp of raw sugar or honey
Instructions
- Start by either bringing your black tea leaves to a boil or pouring hot water over them. Let the tea steep for a few minutes. But be careful not to let it steep for too long—if it sits too long, the tea may turn overly bitter, and the flavor will become less pleasant.
- If you're using green tea instead, be especially careful not to exceed a water temperature of 90°C (194°F), as mentioned earlier.
- Let the tea cool down until it’s warm to the touch—around body temperature. Then add honey. It's important to avoid adding honey to very hot tea, as that can reduce its beneficial properties. While it won’t become harmful, some of the good stuff in honey breaks down in high heat. If you don’t mind that, feel free to add it earlier for convenience.
- Now it’s time to add lemon juice. For extra visual appeal and a refreshing look, you can also throw in a lemon wedge.
- Pour your steeped tea into a large pitcher and top it off with cold water.
- Before serving, chill the tea in the refrigerator for at least an hour so it becomes nice and cold. Alternatively, add a handful of ice cubes when serving for instant refreshment and extra cold tea.
- As I mentioned earlier, let your creativity shine when making iced tea. Experiment with different ingredients and combinations to suit your mood or the season. One thing is certain—you’ll end up with a wonderfully cooling and refreshing glass of iced tea, no matter what!
