Description
Refreshing strawberry iced tea blends sweet summer berries with classic tea for a delightful cooling beverage. Tea enthusiasts will adore this simple, elegant drink that brings pure fruity pleasure to hot afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruity Base:
- 1 (16 ounce / 454 grams) container fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) white sugar
- 1 tablespoon strawberry syrup (like Torani)
Tea and Liquid:
- 4 bags black tea
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) water
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) cold water
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Heat water to boiling point, then remove from heat source and immerse tea bags. Allow tea to steep for precisely 60 minutes, creating a robust and flavorful base.
- Wash and slice fresh strawberries, then generously dust with granulated sugar. Let the fruit macerate for 10 minutes, allowing natural juices to release and create a sweet syrup.
- Gently crush strawberries with a fork or muddler to extract maximum flavor and color. Incorporate the strawberry syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice into the steeped tea mixture.
- Pour the infused tea into a large pitcher, combining with cold water to achieve desired strength and temperature. Stir thoroughly to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Refrigerate the strawberry iced tea for at least 2 hours, allowing the beverage to become thoroughly chilled and the flavors to meld harmoniously. Serve over ice for a refreshing summer drink.
Notes
- Use black tea for a robust flavor, or switch to green or herbal tea for a lighter taste profile.
- Crush strawberries completely to release maximum natural sweetness and create a more vibrant color in the iced tea.
- For a sugar-free version, replace sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener to maintain the drink’s refreshing quality.
- Enhance the drink’s complexity by adding fresh mint leaves or a splash of vanilla extract during the steeping process for an unexpected twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Tea
- Method: Steeping
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg