There’s nothing better than sipping on a tall glass of refreshing iced tea on a hot summer day. Stop scouring the internet and landing up on the same old iced tea recipes- here’s a quick list of some unique and yet, easy healthy iced tea recipes for summer that are refreshing and fruity.
While you are here, check out all our healthy recipes for moms.
How to Make Healthy Iced Tea
There are quite a few refreshing healthy drinks you can enjoy when the temperatures soar. What’s so special about these iced teas, you might wonder.
Well, for starters, iced teas are super hydrating. They are also healthier than other processed and packaged drinks you might find in supermarkets. And they are obviously better choice over a can of soda, or any other fizzy drink.
The best part is, most of these iced tea recipes also have some good health benefits to offer, so you’ll actually be putting something good into your body too.
The key to making healthy iced teas is to reduce the sugar. Often you can use half of the amount of sugar called for in a recipe and still have sweet tea, just without overdoing the sugar. Also, opt for honey, or other natural sweetener, over white sugar. Adding real fruit juice is another healthier choice for added sweetness.
The ice tea recipes below include fruit for flavor as well as for garnish.
There are many methods for making iced tea. Here is ours.
Basic formula for making a gallon of iced tea:
- 8-10 standard tea bags
- 4 qt of filtered water
- Sweetener of choice
- Boil 1 qt of water. When hot pour over the tea bags and steep for 10 minutes, or as directed on the package of the tea used.
- Remove tea bags and mix in sweetener.
- Combine with 3 qt of cold water in a 1 gallon container.
- Add lemon, or fruit and chill for 4 hrs or more.
Best Gallon Iced Tea Recipes With Fresh Fruit
Packed full of flavor and super easy to replicate, these summer iced tea recipes are something you have to try.
Remember that all these iced tea recipes make a gallon, so they work perfectly for when you’re entertaining, having a celebration, cook out, pot luck dinner, or just want to make a batch in advance to enjoy throughout the day.
You can use a gallon beverage container like this to make and serve them in, or a gallon tea pitcher like this which actually has a strainer included.
All the teas needed for the recipes are linked below.
1 – Peach, Mint and Raspberry Iced Tea
Peach tea lovers will enjoy this fun take on their favorite flavor. With the little tanginess from the fresh raspberries and a hint of mint to balance it all out, this is one excellent summer iced tea recipe you definitely need to try your hands at.
To make the tea, you’ll need
- 8 bags peach tea
- 2 bags mint tea
- A handful of fresh raspberries
- 1-2 fresh peaches for garnish (optional)
- 1/3 cup honey
As a start, you’ll need to prepare a gallon of iced tea with the sweetener of your choice. Meanwhile, pulse the fresh raspberries in a food processor or muddle well. Strain the mixture and reserve the liquid. Add this to the iced tea and mix well before serving. You can also garnish with a sprig of mint leaves, fresh peach slices and some of the raspberry solids leftover from the straining process.
2 – Iced Raspberry Leaf Tea
If you’ve never tried your hands at iced red raspberry leaf tea before, now’s the perfect time to. It has been in use since years to aid reproductive health and fertility in women, and is excellent to be consumed during pregnancy and even postpartum.
To make it, you’ll need
- 3 tea bags of red raspberry leaf
- 2 tea bags of nettle leaf
- 2 bags of dandelion tea
- 2 bags of mint tea
- 1 tea bag of hibiscus tea
- Fresh lemon juice (optional)
- 2-3 tbsp honey (optional)
Making the tea is super easy. You just need to brew all the teas together in boiling water, strain it and allow it to cool down before adding the lemon juice and sweetening it with honey.
This summer iced tea recipe in particular, is great if you’re pregnant or are nearing your due date, or are just trying to conceive. And even if you’re not- the delicious mingle of flavors that make up this tea isn’t worth missing out on.
Pregnant? These healthy pregnancy drinks are good options too.
3 – Lemon and Dandelion Iced Tea
There’s so much more to dandelions than just being picture perfect- their roots and flowers are loaded with medicinal benefits. Dandelion can help improves digestion, relieve heartburn, and prevents prevents UTIinfections. There are even good benefits of dandelion tea during pregnancy and postpartum.
When teamed up with a versatile flavor like lemon, dandelions can be turned into a healthy, fruity drink.
To make it, you’ll need
- 4 bags Roasted dandelion root
- 6 bags lemon tea
- 1/3 cup Honey or sweetener
To make the tea, you’ll just need to brew the lemon tea along with the dandelion, strain it, and sweeten it as per your preference. It’s that simple.
Packed with potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and a plethora of other vitamins, this iced tea isn’t just great for pregnant women, but for everyone else too. If you’re not too fond of strong flavors, and are looking for a subtle tasting iced tea recipe, this is the one you need to go for.
4 – Spicy Citrus Iced Tea
This citrusy iced tea has just the right balance of sweetness with a hint of spice, making it the perfect choice for those who don’t prefer iced teas that have a predominantly sweet taste. You can also add a bit of fresh lemon juice and some fresh ginger to the tea to lend it some extra flavor.
To make it, you’ll need
- 8 bags Ginger lemon tea
- 2 bags mint tea
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 1/3 cup honey or sweetener
Brew the tea as you would, along with the cinnamon stick. If you’re using honey, add it towards the end and give it all a good mix. Allow the tea to cool down or refrigerate it. Throw in some ice cubes and garnish with some lemon slices and mint leaves.
The ingredients that make up this iced tea help detoxify the body and offer many nutritional benefits too.
5 – Pomegranate and Mint Iced Tea
This refreshing drink has a fun and pop of color of pomegranates in a base of peppermint tea, and is a nice subtle summer iced tea recipe that you can enjoy.
To make it, you’ll need
- 7 mint tea bags
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- Honey to taste
Making it is pretty easy too- you’ll just need to mix the pomegranate juice with the prepared mint tea, and add in some honey if needed. That’s it.
This rather simple version of iced tea is actually loaded with antioxidants from the pomegranate, along with many other vitamins and minerals.
6 – Lemon, Blueberry and Green Iced Tea
And here’s another mind blowing combination of flavors that work wonderfully when concocted into an iced tea, perfect for staying hydrated on hot summer days.
To make it, you’ll need
- 4 green tea bags
- 4 lemon tea bags
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/3 cup honey or sweetener
To make this iced tea, you’ll need to prepare the green tea and lemon tea as you would. On the side, you’ll need to process the blueberries until you get a nice pulp, and then pass it through sieve. To save time, you can even skip this step and just toss the berries in pitcher. Then, mix it with the tea, add some chilled water and honey for sweetness, and you’re all set.
Blueberries are chock full of antioxidants and all the good stuff, and when combined with the classic flavors of blueberry and lemon, they can result in a drink that is delightful on a summer afternoon.
7 – Hibiscus Orange Iced Tea
A simple, yet tasty combo of floral and fruity. This is a great iced tea recipe for boosting immunity as both orange, hibiscus and lemon are high in vitamin C.
To make it, you’ll need
- 8 hibiscus tea bags
- 2 lemon tea bags
- 2 large oranges
- 1/4 cup honey or sweetener
To make this ice tea recipe, pour hot water over the hibiscus tea bags and let steep 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags before adding the juice of 1 orange. Slice the 2nd orange and put slices in the pitcher for garnish and added flavor.
There’s no better way to cool down that a nice glass of one of these fruity iced tea recipes.
Try one of these? Which one is your favorite iced tea recipe?? Have your own recipe? Share with us in the comments below!
More on Tea from Birth Eat Love
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Raspberry Leaf Tea for Pregnancy
Best Herbal Teas Safe for Pregnancy
Green Tea Lactation Latte
More Recipes for Your Next Cookout or Gathering
Here are some more healthy recipes to serve with iced tea for your next BBQ, celebration, or pot luck.
Asparagus and Mushroom Recipe – great healthy side dish for spring and summer parties
Grilled Fenugreek Chicken Thighs Recipe – tasty recipe for the grill
Gluten Free Pasta Salad – serves a crowd
Easy Healthy Fudge Recipe – the perfect easy no bake dessert (that’s healthy too)
