Iced Tea Recipe (INSTANT!)

Iced Tea is a sweet, cold, and refreshing drink that you can certainly serve for celebrations. It can be paired with healthy recipes, snacks, and even breakfast. You might even add this to your favorite summer drinks!

iced tea recipe

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 Make your Iced Tea special by preparing it at home! You can make it as sweet as you want it to be.

How to Make Iced Tea

Enjoy healthy and delicious Iced Tea by following this recipe. Every sip is made special and satisfying! This is a recipe that you will surely want to share with everyone.

Nutrition

Not only is iced tea easy to make and tasty to drink, but it is also good for your health.

Serving: 1 (of 2 glasses)

Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 0.1g
Sodium: 149mgPotassium: 11mgFiber: 0.04g
Sugar: 17gVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 8mg
Iron: 0.1mg

Ingredients

The following are the simple ingredients to make easy and delicious iced tea.

Black tea bag 

A black tea bag infuses the tea with the flavors of natural herbs for a revitalizing and floral flavor. It gives the beverage a rich color to make the drink more appetizing. 

You can use whatever tea bag you have at home to make it with your favorite variant. 

easy instant iced tea prep

Baking soda 

Baking soda is important to make the beverage smooth, clear, and less bitter. Just a pinch of baking soda can make a difference in your drink. It prevents the drink from becoming cloudy and intensifies the iced tea’s combined flavors.

I know it sounds odd to add baking soda to drinks but trust me, it’s worth it!

Honey 

Honey is a natural sweetener that will enhance the taste and consistency of the drink. It also adds to the fragrance of the beverage. In fact, it makes Iced Tea healthier!

Water and ice cubes

This recipe uses hot and cold water. The hot water steeps the tea bag, while the cold water is to make the drink cool. It isn’t Iced Tea without ice cubes, right?

Using the basic ingredients can help you serve delicious iced tea to your loved ones during parties. This drink is also a great refreshment that you can make for yourself! 

Directions

  1. In a glass cup, combine the baking soda with boiling water and the tea bag.
  2. Cover it and leave for 5 minutes. 
  3. After 5 minutes, remove the tea bag.
  4. Then, stir in the honey.
  5. Add chilled water to cool the tea. 
  6. Finally, serve the tea with ice cubes, and enjoy!
easy iced tea recipe prep

See how easy it is to make your own Iced Tea? Once you try this, it will surely be one of your favorite drinks! Not only is it satisfying, but it is also energizing.

Tips

Use loose-leaf tea. 

Loose-leaf tea gives you more flavor than tea bags. According to The Kitchn, you can use one to two teaspoons of loose leaf for six ounces of water.

Dunk the loose-leaf strainer and a cop to infuse the water with the aroma and taste. 

Be creative. 

The best thing about homemade iced tea is adding your favorite herbs, spices, and seasoning for a new flavor every time you make it.

For instance, you can add cinnamon, cardamom, lemongrass, cocoa, nutmeg, vanilla bean, hibiscus, lavender, mint, and more. 

Add your fruits. 

One of the ways to instantly enhance your iced tea is to add fresh fruits. You can add watermelon, oranges, strawberries, apricots, figs, mango, passion fruit, plums, cherries, pineapple, and other fruits you love. 

In fact, you can also freeze the sliced fruits to give them a cooling effect. All you need to do is freeze the juice in ice cube trays and take it out whenever you need it! 

Don’t skip the sweeteners. 

Natural sweeteners can instantly neutralize the flavors of iced tea. Moreover, it prevents the drink from becoming too bitter for a more enjoyable experience.

Aside from sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, you can also add juice from sweet fruits like oranges and pineapple. 

easy iced tea recipe

Iced Tea Variations

Since this iced tea recipe is highly customizable, you can mix and match the ingredients. You can try different tea bags of other flavors to discover which one you prefer the most.

Sencha Tea Bar suggests flavors, such as chamomile, peppermint, black tea, green tea, hibiscus, oolong, barley, peach, and white tea for iced drinks. 

Meanwhile, for sweeteners, you can use honey, maple syrup, stevia, sugar, fruit juices, or chopped fresh fruits for a more natural and refreshing taste.

Ice cubes can also be replaced with frozen fruit juices for intensified flavor, fragrance, and vibrant color! 

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tea recipe

How to Serve Iced Tea

In an article by The List, iced tea is a great summer drink you can serve with fruits. On a hot day, iced tea can hydrate your body while improving your immunity, digestion, and mood. 

Iced tea is also suggested for people who want to limit their coffee or energy drink intake. It helps avoid the effects of caffeine, such as anxiety, blood pressure, and sleep problems. 

This drink is also a great source of antioxidants compared to canned versions. It aids in weight loss, healthy-looking skin, stress management, and heart health. 

When it comes to food pairings, it can go perfectly well with the following dishes:

This recipe is perfect for gatherings or parties to give your guests something new to drink! 

Storage Tips

make ahead

  • In the fridge: Pour the iced tea into a glass bottle. Then, refrigerate it for up to 12 hours. 
  • To freeze: Freeze the ice tea on ice cube trays. Once frozen solid, transfer them into freezer bags. Store it for a few weeks.
chilled iced tea

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Iced Tea good for you?

Of course! According to Life at the Vineyards, drinking iced tea in moderation can help you stay hydrated. Moreover, it can supply your body with antioxidants, boostyour immunity, reduce your sugar intake, improve your dental health, and take care of your heart. 

What is Iced Tea made of? 

Homemade ice cream comprises water, a tea bag, sweeteners, ice cubes, and baking soda. The water helps steep the tea, while the baking soda is responsible for the smooth and rich texture of the drink. The sweeteners intensify and neutralize the overall flavors. 

Is it ok to drink tea every day? 

You can drink iced tea every day but make sure to consume it and moderation because drinking too much of this beverage can cause anxiety, headaches, and digestive problems. HealthLine says people can drink up to 4 cups of iced tea daily.

chilled tea

Instant Iced Tea

5 from 1 vote
What better way to quench your thirst and nourish your body than preparing simple, instant, smooth, and sweet homemade iced tea?
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 7 mins
Servings 2
Course Drinks, Tea
Cuisine American, Southern
Calories 64kcal

Ingredients
  

  • tsp baking soda (secret ingredient – for clarity & smoothness)
  • ½ cup hot water (to infuse the tea)
  • 1 black tea bag (or Earl Grey tea)
  • 1 tbsp honey (or sugar) optional
  • ½ cup chilled/cold water (to cool the tea)
  • 1 cup ice cubes (to serve)
  • 2 fresh lemon slices (for garnishing) optional

Instructions
 

  • Boiled water.
    In an electric kettle or a pot, bring some water to a boil.
  • Steep the tea.
    In a glass cup, combine the baking soda with boiling water and the tea bag. Cover it and leave for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, remove the tea bag.
  • Stir in the honey, and add chilled water to bring the tea to room temperature.
  • Serve the iced tea.
    Serve the tea over ice cubes and enjoy it!
  • Garnish with a slice of fresh lemon or lime.

Video

Notes

  • Be creative with your iced tea.
  • You can incorporate different fruits, sweeteners, and herbs to make it customized to your taste.
  • Some of the best tea flavors include green tea, chamomile tea, and hibiscus tea.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 (of 2)Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 0.1gSodium: 149mgPotassium: 11mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 17gVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword black tea recipe, easy iced tea, ice tea, iced tea, instant iced tea, smooth iced tea, sweet ice tea, sweet tea, tea recipe

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