12 homemade iced tea recipes for a healthy refreshment

On a scorching summer day, what could be better than a perfectly sweetened glass of iced tea topped with fresh fruit? Popularized by the British in the late 19th century, this refreshing beverage comes in an infinite variety of forms and only takes a few minutes to prepare. Bonus point, it’s just as easy to make a single glass of iced tea as it is to make a larger batch. So you might as well fill a pitcher that keeps perfectly in the fridge and can be proudly brought out at any occasion!

Also read: Heatwave: what to do when you don’t like water?

How to make homemade iced tea?

Tea

As its name suggests, the main ingredient of iced tea is of course tea. Between black, green, white or herbal teas, the choice will depend solely on each person’s taste. For example, green teas have a lighter flavor than black teas. White tea, on the other hand, has a much more delicate aroma, while herbal teas offer floral and herbaceous notes, all without theine of course.

In terms of quantities, you need about 1 tea bag, or 1 tablespoon of loose tea, for 25cl of water.

The preparation

Boil the desired amount of water in a kettle or saucepan. Meanwhile, place the tea at the bottom of a heat-resistant container. If you are using tea bags, you will need to open them and remove the label, thread or attached paper. As soon as the water is boiling, pour it over the tea and let it steep for the time indicated on the packaging. Allow approximately 60 to 90 seconds for white tea, 3 minutes for green tea, 5 minutes for black tea, and finally 15 minutes for herbal tea.

Then collect the tea bags with a spoon, or filter everything through a strainer if you have opted for loose tea. Finally, pour the preparation into a serving pitcher (which can be the same one as the one previously used), and let cool. For a guaranteed feeling of freshness, add ice cubes just before serving. Now for the best part: flavoring your homemade iced tea!

Fruity and vitamin-rich flavors

To enhance the whole thing, you can enhance your iced tea with all sorts of ingredients. Fruit syrup, sugar, honey or agave nectar will add sweet and fruity notes to your drink. You can spice it up with a dash of lemon juice, grated spices like ginger, anise or cardamom, or even fresh plants like mint or hibiscus. Of course, for more flavor, there’s nothing stopping you from adding pieces of fruit directly to your iced tea: strawberries, lemon, peach, mango, passion fruit or citrus fruits are all welcome. As decoration, opt for the traditional slice of lemon, the refreshing sprig of mint, or even dried flower petals, which will subtly perfume the whole thing. As you can see, the possibilities are endless! The proof is in these 12 homemade recipes, each as addictive as the next.