Strawberry Mint Iced Tea
This is my favorite summer iced tea — light, refreshing, and pretty enough to serve to guests. The strawberry adds sweetness, the mint adds brightness, and the green tea keeps it clean and not too heavy.
Servings: 8
Calories: 1kcal
Equipment
- hot water kettle
- teapot if making hot brew
Ingredients
- 4-6 tablespoons loose leaf green tea or 6-8 green tea bags
- 1 cup fresh strawberries hulled and sliced
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves plus more for serving
- 8 cups water
- Honey or simple syrup to taste optional
- Ice for serving
Instructions
Cold Brew Method
- Add green tea, sliced strawberries, and mint leaves to a 2-quart pitcher.4-6 tablespoons loose leaf green tea, 1 cup fresh strawberries, 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- Pour 8 cups cold water over everything.8 cups water
- Cover and refrigerate 8-12 hours or overnight.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean pitcher or directly into glasses.
- Taste and add honey or simple syrup if desired.Honey or simple syrup to taste
- Serve over ice, garnished with fresh mint and a strawberry slice.
Hot Brew Method:
- Bring 4 cups of water to 175°F (just before boiling — small bubbles forming but not rolling).
- Add green tea and steep for 2-3 minutes. Don't oversteep or it will be bitter.4-6 tablespoons loose leaf green tea
- Strain out tea leaves immediately.
- Add sliced strawberries and mint leaves to the hot tea.1 cup fresh strawberries, 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- Let steep 10-15 minutes.
- Strain out fruit and mint.
- Add 4 cups cold water and pour over ice to cool.
- Taste and add honey or simple syrup if desired.
- Refrigerate until cold, or serve immediately over ice.Ice for serving
- Garnish with fresh mint and a strawberry slice.
Notes
Mint variety: Any mint works. I grow chocolate mint, which adds a subtle richness, but spearmint or peppermint are both excellent.
Sweetening: Taste first. Ripe strawberries often provide enough sweetness on their own. If you want it sweeter, add 1-2 tablespoons honey or simple syrup.
Scaling up: Double everything for a gallon. Halve everything for a quart.
Keeping: Refrigerate up to 3 days. The flavor is best in the first day or two.
Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 0.04g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 8mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 42IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg