Description
Make refreshing iced tea at home using fresh herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary. This guide provides hot brew and cold brew methods for flavorful results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups water
- 4 standard black tea bags or 4 tablespoons loose leaf black tea
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
- 1/2 cup sugar (for simple syrup)
- 1/2 cup water (for simple syrup)
- Ice
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the simple syrup: Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Brew the tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the tea bags or loose leaf tea and steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags or strain the leaves.
- Infuse the herbs: Add the fresh mint and basil leaves to the hot, brewed tea concentrate. Let the herbs steep for 15 minutes. Do not over-steep, as this can cause bitterness.
- Combine and chill: Strain the tea mixture into a large pitcher, discarding the herbs. Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher. Stir in the cooled simple syrup to taste.
- Chill thoroughly: Refrigerate the iced tea for at least 2 hours until very cold.
- Serve: Pour the chilled tea over ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh mint sprig or a lemon slice.
Notes
- For a cold brew method, combine 8 cups of cold water, tea, and herbs in a pitcher. Refrigerate for 12 to 18 hours, then strain and sweeten.
- Substitute basil with rosemary or lavender for different flavor profiles. Use about 1 tablespoon of rosemary or 2 teaspoons of lavender buds per batch.
- If you prefer a less sweet tea, start with half the simple syrup and add more as needed after chilling.
- Black tea pairs well with mint and basil. Green tea works well with lavender.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Steeping
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (8 oz)
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0