Iced Tea Recipe (INSTANT!)

Feel cool and healthy while staying healthy and fit with Iced Tea!

Of all the drinks I made, Iced Tea is an ultimately refreshing drink that makes tea so much more enjoyable. It’s an incredible drink with a light, sweet, and earthy flavor and an invigorating effect.

It is the perfect drink to serve for celebrations, occasions, and weekends. It goes with almost any dish to make the dining experience better every time. Most importantly, it’s healthy for you in many ways.

iced tea recipe

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Are you ready to experience just how refreshing Iced Tea can be? It is absolutely easy and quick to make. In less than ten minutes, you can get a life-changing drink that the whole family will enjoy!

How to Make Iced Tea

You don’t need fancy or expensive ingredients to make Iced Tea. All you need are tea bags, baking soda, honey, and some ice to get the best results yet. Once you taste it, you won’t need to buy processed Iced Tea ever again.

Sometimes, an Iced Tea is all you need to feel good and happy!

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

These are all you need to make tasty Iced Tea:

Black tea bag 

What tea flavor do you plan on using for Iced Tea?

You can try many tea flavors, but I suggest using a black tea bag. It has the perfect balance of sweet, caramel, smoky, spicy, nutty, and robust flavors that make a great tea.

It gives the beverage a rich color to entice you to drink more of it. Black tea also has a floral and fruity fragrance that adds to its awesome quality. Its bold flavor will surely take the drink to a whole new level.

Health Benefits of Black Tea

  • Boost your heart health with the antioxidants you can get from black tea.
  • According to Healthline, black tea can improve focus and alertness.
  • Drinking black tea can lower your risk of suffering from a stroke.
  • UCLA Health mentioned that black tea can protect you from different causes of death.
  • There have also been studies that showed that black tea can prevent cancer.

Overall, black tea is not only loaded with delicious flavors but also bursting with health benefits that can help you live a happier and healthier lifestyle. It’s already delicious on its own; wait until you taste it in this recipe.

easy instant iced tea prep
Baking soda 

What’s my secret to making Iced Tea? It’s baking soda!

Baking soda makes the drink smooth, clear, and less bitter. Even a pinch can make a big difference in hot and cold tea recipes. It also neutralizes the flavors of the drink for the right level of sweetness.

Southern Living also mentioned that baking soda in tea can prevent the drink from becoming cloudy and lessen any bitter taste. I know it sounds odd to add baking soda to drinks but trust me, it’s worth it!

Honey 

When it comes to making this drink, don’t forget to add your sweetener.

Complement the healthy quality of the tea with natural sweeteners like honey. It’s a healthy ingredient that can help make the tea tastier. The thick and smooth texture of the honey will also be good for the drink’s texture.

The honey also adds a jasmine and warm fragrance to make the drink inviting. You can use honey for other drinks, juices, and smoothies to instantly make them better!

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

Simply do these steps to make Iced Tea like a pro!

  1. In a glass cup, mix the baking soda with boiling water and the tea bag.
  2. Cover it and steep it for a few minutes.
  3. After five 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

Here are some tips on how you can take your Iced Tea to the next level:

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 in a cup to infuse the water with the aroma and taste. 

Be creative. 

The best thing about homemade iced tea is that you can add your favorite herbs, spices, and seasonings 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 also add watermelon, oranges, strawberries, apricots, figs, mango, passion fruit, plums, cherries, pineapple, and other fruits you love. 

In fact, you can 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 greatly improve the flavors of iced tea. Moreover, they prevent the drink from becoming too bitter, making 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

There’s always more than one way to make Iced Tea.

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. For starters, you can go with the classic Black Tea to experience its natural flavor.

In case you want to taste earthy flavors, you can go with Green Tea or Herbal Iced Tea with mint, peppermint, hibiscus, and more. Another popular option nowadays is the Matcha Iced Tea for a healthy and tasty drink.

If you love fruits in your Iced Tea drinks, I suggest making them with peaches, raspberries, lemons, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, and even coconuts.

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

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

More Tea Recipes

  • Turmeric Tea – infuse tea with turmeric for weight loss and overall health.
  • Hibiscus Lemon Tea – enjoy floral and citrus flavors in one drink.
  • Hibiscus Tea – live and feel better with hibiscus flowers in your tea.

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tea recipe

How to Serve Iced Tea

Are you excited to savor 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, high blood pressure, and sleep problems. 

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

  • Breakfast Sandwich – Iced Tea tastes great with any sandwich recipe.
  • Veggie Salad – make it a healthy meal with a salad and tea.
  • Roast Chicken – pair savory chicken with a sweet drink.
  • Couscous – it’s not rice, but pasta that tastes incredible with tea.
  • Tortilla Wrap – have a fun and amazing experience with a wrap and a drink.

Storage Tips

make ahead

In the fridge: Pour the drink into a glass bottle. Then, refrigerate it for up to 12 hours. 

To freeze: Freeze the 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, boost your immunity, reduce your sugar intake, improve your dental health, and take care of your heart. 

What is iced tea made of?

Iced Tea is made of steeped tea, a sweetener, and some ice. Baking soda is optional, but I suggest adding it for a balanced flavor and an even better texture and quality. For the sweetener, you can use honey, maple syrup, or even sugar.

Why is it called iced tea?

Iced tea is called Iced Tea because it’s a tea that is served chilled or with ice. It is a popular drink option on hot days, but you can also drink it whenever you just want to feel relaxed and refreshed.

Is iced tea a sweet drink?

When you add sweeteners, the Iced Tea can be a sweet drink. The honey can balance out the bitter and earthy flavors from the black tea.

instant sweet iced tea

Instant Iced Tea

5 from 1 vote
Discover the ultimate refreshing drink: iced tea. It's quick, easy to make, and perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
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
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