Summer Iced Tea Recipes

Summer is over and winter will soon be here but a hot Autumn means that there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy an iced tea.

Tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water and one of the most popular ways to drink tea is iced. We are frequently asked what the best way to prepare iced tea is however there is no hard and fast rule to this as it depends on the type of tea and the desired outcome so below we have listed a few of our favourite iced tea techniques.

First up is a very simple technique that works well with most types of teas.

  • Start by using twice the quantity of tea leaves you would use normally then pour over the boiled water. We like to use a strong fruit tea like Berry Sensation or Red Velvet rooibos tea however almost any flavoured tea will work.
  • Add a sweetening agent while the water is still hot; we use honey but sugar sticks work well too.
  • After your tea has brewed for the usual length of time remove the tealeaves and allow it to cool until it reaches room temperature or put it in the refrigerator for later.
  • Pour the tea into glasses at least two thirds filed with ice and garnish with a slice of any citrus fruit, strawberry or mint.

Next we’ll try a fruity black tea method that’s always a crowd pleaser.

  • Use a sweet floral black tea like French Earl Grey or Stockholm with double the normal quantity of tea leaves.
  • Allow the tea to brew for a few minutes longer than normal before removing the leaves and refrigerating the tea.
  • Once chilled stir through 1-2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon per glass.
  • Dice half a cup of mixed summer fruits per glass and add to the brew. We like to use fresh peach, pineapple, raspberries, apple and orange but feel free to experiment.
  • Serve in a glass at least half full of ice and top with a sprig of mint or basil.

The last tea we’re going to make is a vanilla green tea, this one is a little bit naughty so should be saved for special occasions.

  • Brew a double quantity of a green sencha tea like Jade Sencha or our personal favourite Marrakesh Mint.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for each glass to the brewed tea.
  • Refrigerate until ready to drink.
  • Stir until blended, prepare each glass by half filling with ice, top with a scoop of premium French vanilla ice cream then pour the chilled green tea over the top.

Well that's all for now so why not give these recipes a go or why not try and invent your own and tell us all about it in the comments below.