Top 5 Iced Tea Recipes to Beat the Summer Heat

Summer is all about long sunny days, pool parties, and of course, refreshing drinks to beat the heat. One of the top summer drinks is a pitcher of delicious homemade iced tea. Not only is this tasty, cold drink a delicious way to hydrate in summer, but it is also super easy to make at home.

We've all had lemon iced tea, but it's easy to mix it up. If you're looking for new ideas instead of regular iced tea, there are many tasty iced tea recipes you can try. We have five ideas for you to try this summer.

The thirst-quenching Caribbean Coconut Lime Tea will have you dreaming of relaxing days on a tropical beach, and the Spicy Thai-Inspired Iced Tea is a little something different for a hot summer day.

We also give you iced tea recipes for crisp and healthy green tea with green apples, and tasty hibiscus, rooibos, and pomegranate tea – both sweet and tart. Finally, we give you one of the best iced tea recipes around: a refreshing, fruity mint and raspberry iced tea. It's a summer winner.

No matter which drink you choose to make, these refreshing iced teas are so good you just might want to enjoy them all year round.

1. Iced Hibiscus and Pomegranate Tea

This recipe's hibiscus and rooibos blend has a delightful, delicately floral flavor and incredible health benefits. Pomegranate tastes tart and sweet - perfectly balancing the other flavors. This delicious drink is guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds. And it's caffeine-free - you can enjoy it all day long!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Sweet Hibiscus Rooibos tea

• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice

• Hot water

• 2 tbsp honey (optional, or more to taste)

• Ice cubes

• Fresh pomegranate seeds and a sprig of mint for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
2. Add the loose leaf Sweet Hibiscus Rooibos tea to your Iced Tea Pitcher With Infuser. (Don't have one? You can steep your tea in a teapot or on the stovetop.)
3. Add hot water to your pitcher until just above the silicone base. Let steep at least 5-7 or up to 12 minutes.
4. Remove the infuser.

5. Stir in the honey (optional) until it is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed.

6. Add the pomegranate juice.

7. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator.

8. Once cool, pour over ice in individual glasses.

9. Garnish with fresh pomegranate and a sprig of mint (optional), and serve.

10. Enjoy your refreshing and flavorful Iced Hibiscus and Pomegranate Tea!

2. Caribbean Coconut Lime Iced Tea

Float away to a dreamy island with this tasty herbal iced tea recipe. It's a sweet, light, refreshing, perfectly sweetened, and delicious drink. If you don't have a fresh lime on hand, this recipe also works well with lemon.

Ingredients:

• Hot water

• Caribbean Dream tea

• Pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)

• Coconut water

• Honey, agave, maple syrup, or other sweetener of your choice (optional)

• Fresh lemon or lime juice

• A pineapple slice or some lime or lemon slices for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.

2. Add the loose leaf Caribbean Dream tea to your Iced Tea Pitcher With Infuser. (Don't have one? You can steep your tea in a teapot or on the stovetop.)

3. Add hot water to your pitcher until just above the silicone base. Let steep 5-7 minutes.

4. Remove the infuser.

5. Add about 1/2 cup cold coconut water, then add pineapple chunks and honey or sweetener to taste.

6. Stir well.

7. Chill in the refrigerator. 

8. Pour over ice into individual glasses.

9. Garnish each glass with a pineapple slice and a sprig of mint, and serve.

10. Enjoy delicious caffeine-free iced tea with no added flavorings.

3. Iced Green Tea With Mint, Lime, and Lemon

This refreshing iced tea is a refreshing drink for a hot day, and it is packed with incredible health benefits. 

Ingredients:

• Hot water

• 2 tbsp loose leaf Flower Power green tea

• 1/4 cup lime juice plus lime slices for garnish

• 1/4 lemon juice plus lemon slices for garnish

• Honey, maple, or agave syrup (optional)

• Mint for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
2. Add the loose leaf green tea to your Iced Tea Pitcher With Infuser. (Don't have one? You can steep your tea in a teapot or on the stovetop.)
3. Add hot water to your pitcher until just above the silicone base. Let steep 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove the infuser.

5. Add the lime juice, lemon juice, and sweetner, then add cold water until just below the spout.

6. Chill it in the refrigerator.

7. Once chilled, pour your green tea iced tea over ice in individual glasses.

8. Garnish with mint, lemon slices, and lime slices (optional) and serve.

9. Enjoy healthy and refreshing iced green tea.

4. Thai Iced Tea With Peaches

Thai iced tea is a decadent, creamy, mildly spiced drink made with spices, milk, and sweetener. This sweet tea is popular in Southeast Asian restaurants. With this iced tea recipe, you can have homemade iced tea that tastes like it comes from a trendy restaurant and with the added fresh flavor of peaches.

Ingredients:

• Hot water

• 2 tbsp The Champion loose-leaf black tea

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 2 whole cloves

• 4-5 cardamom pods, slightly crushed

• 1/4 cup honey, agave, or maple syrup

• 2 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced

• 1/2 cup evaporated milk or non-dairy alternative

• Ice cubes

• A fresh sprig of mint for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

2. Once the water has boiled, add the loose-leaf black tea, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and slightly crushed cardamom pods to the boiling water in the saucepan.

3. Lower the temperature and let it steep for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Remove the saucepan from the burner. Strain the tea into a large pitcher or bowl. Discard the tea leaves and spices.

5. Add sweetener and stir until it dissolves.

6. Add sliced peaches to the pitcher or bowl and mix well.

7. Chill the tea in the refrigerator until it is cold.

8. Once the tea is chilled, pour it over ice cubes in individual glasses.

9. Pour a tablespoon of evaporated milk on top of each glass.

10. Garnish with orange slices (optional) and serve. Enjoy this spicy drink!

5. Mint and Raspberry Iced Tea

If you love mint iced tea but want to change it up, this refreshing tea made with fresh ingredients is an excellent option. It's delightfully minty, slightly tart, and not overwhelmingly sweet.

Ingredients:

• Hot water

• 2 tbsp Wise Sherpa black tea

• Fresh mint leaves

• Fresh raspberries

• Honey

• Ice cubes

• A sprig of mint for each glass for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
2. Add the loose leaf black tea to your Iced Tea Pitcher With Infuser. (Don't have one? You can steep your tea in a teapot or on the stovetop.)
3. Add hot water to your pitcher until just above the silicone base. Let steep 4-5 minutes.
4. Remove the infuser.

5. Add raspberries and the fresh mint leaves to the hot tea.

6. Let the mixture steep for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Add honey, if desired, to taste.

8. Chill the tea in the refrigerator until it is cold.

9. Once the mixture is cool, pour over ice in individual glasses.

10. Garnish with mint.

Loose Leaf Tea vs. Tea Bags

When you make iced tea, it's always best to brew the best quality tea you can find. Loose tea is considered better than store-bought tea bags for several reasons. Here are some of them:

1. Loose tea is made from whole, dried leaves, which allows for a richer and more complex flavor. In contrast, tea bags contain fine particles, which can be of lower quality and not provide the same depth of flavor.

2. It is more environmentally friendly than tea bags. Tea bags are often made with non-biodegradable materials, such as nylon or plastic, which can take years to decompose in landfills. Loose tea, on the other hand, can be composted or recycled.

3. Loose tea allows for more control over the brewing process. You can adjust the quantity of tea leaves used and the steeping time to create a customized and consistent flavor with loose tea. Tea bags, however, are often pre-measured and can result in a weaker or stronger brew, depending on how long it's brewed.

4. While the upfront cost of loose-leaf blends may be slightly higher, you can brew loose-leaf tea multiple times, providing more servings per purchase. Take a look at our Gong-Fu Brewing article to learn how multiple brews can be an art form and a form of meditation. In contrast, you only use tea bags once and then discard them.

The Best Of Summer Sipping

Whether you like to add a splash of lemon or milk to your iced tea, serve it with fresh fruit slices, or infuse it with spices, there's a delicious iced tea recipe for everyone. You can use herbal teas or caffeinated tea if you want a kick. Enjoy a strong brew or a gently infused tisane - it's all up to you.

No matter how you enjoy making iced tea, the best iced tea always has two elements.

• You should only use high-quality ingredients to make iced tea, regardless of your iced tea recipe. Order premium loose-leaf blends right here at Firebelly Tea.

• Always take a few minutes to really relax and enjoy life as you're drinking it. Making tea and enjoying it should be a pleasurable experience!