A delicious and refreshing Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe that is easy to make and is perfect for any summer day. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, and other outings, it is just sweet enough toe be a refreshing summer drink everyone can enjoy.
Warm weather calls for a refreshing drink and this iced tea with strawberries is lovely and colorful on the alfresco table. Adding a few slices of strawberries looks so pretty and adds flavor. This summer tea is favorite drink in our home.
It's one of our delicious easy drink recipes you will want to save - It is a great way to celebrate strawberry season.
Flavored iced tea is a wonderful beverage to enjoy all year long, but I find it especially refreshing in summer. On really warm mornings I have been known to enjoy a glass of sweet tea with breakfast!
It's a great drink to serve at barbecues and parties. You can serve it from a pitcher or clear dispenser for gatherings. If you use a dispenser, do not add strawberries until after pouring or they will get in the way of the dispensing spout.
Strawberry Iced tea is so refreshing and you can enjoy the sweet flavors of fresh strawberries in an iced tea. This iced tea recipe is simple to make as it only requires a few ingredients. You can use your favorite black or green tea for this recipe too.
Flavored iced tea is a wonderful beverage to enjoy all year long, but I find it especially refreshing in summer. On really warm mornings I have been known to enjoy a glass of sweet tea with breakfast!
It's a great drink to serve at barbecues and parties. You can serve it from a pitcher or clear dispenser for gatherings. If you use a dispenser, do not add strawberries until after pouring or they will get in the way of the dispensing spout.
INGREDIENTS FOR STRAWBERRY SYRUP
You can buy strawberry syrup of course, but making your own is fast, easy, and gives you complete control over the ingredients. Here's what you'll need to make your own syrup.
Strawberries. Fresh sliced strawberries will work best. If you slice the strawberries they release more of their natural juices and sugars than if you put them in whole. Also, use ripe strawberries for a nice deep, color.
Sugar. White granulated sugar is my sweetener of choice.
Pro Tip: You can refrigerate your strawberry syrup for up to 3 days so if you are planning to host you can make it ahead of time.
You can buy strawberry syrup of course, but making your own is fast, easy, and gives you complete control over the ingredients. Here's what you'll need to make your own syrup.
Ingredients for Sweet Strawberry Tea
Tea - Use your favorite tea. I used Black tea for this recipe, but you could substitute Green tea. It can be a cafefinated or herbal tea.
Sugar- I use granulated sugar for this recipe.You can also use raw sugar if you like.
Strawberries - You want to use fresh, ripe, washed juicy strawberries for this recipe. Pick berries that are plumb and red. Avoid those that er bruised, mushy or moldy. I usually buy the berries the day before or the day of making this so that they are fresh. This recipe will not work with frozen strawberries.
Lemon juice - I like using fresh lemon juice. If you do not have fresh lemon juice, you can use the bottled, but really try to use fresh. This provides a nice brightening acid to play off the strawberry flavor and counter the sweetness.
Water & Ice cubes
Garnish with strawberry slices and mint sprigs.
Full recipe in recipe card.
How To Make Strawberry Iced Tea
The full recipe is below, but the steps are outlined here.
How To Make Iced Strawberry Tea
Step one: Pour boiling water over tea bags.
Step Two: Add sugar
Step Three: Prepare Homemade strawberry syrup. (see below)
Step Four: Add strawberry syrup to tea.
How To Make Strawberry Syrup
Cook for 30 Minutes.
Strain.
The natural juices from the strawberries will have formed a beautiful syrup perfect for ice cream, smoothies, and of course, sweet tea. I like to keep the strawberries that have been strained and add one or two to each glass.
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SYRUP
- Cook for 30 Minutes.
- Strain.
The natural juices from the strawberries will have formed a beautiful syrup perfect for ice cream, smoothies, and of course, sweet tea. I like to keep the strawberries that were strained out and add one or two to each glass.
- Heat water in a pn until water boils. Pour boiling water over tea bags.
- Add sugar and heat until sugar dissolves.
- Make Strawberry syrup.
- Add strawberry syrup to tea.
Serve over ice. Garnish with strawberry slices and mint sprigs.
Timesaving Tips
You can refrigerate your strawberry syrup for up to 3 days so if you are planning to host you can make it ahead of time.
If you like your tea on the sweet side, you can add a little bit of honey.
You can add a few frozen whole strawberries when serving from a pitcher to make it really festive.
If you slice the strawberries they release more of their natural juices and sugars than if you put the whole. Also, the riper the strawberry the deeper the color of the syrup
This is the perfect party drink to serve in those fun farmhouse dispensers.
Strawberry Sweet Tea FAQs
Can I use an artificial sweetener?
You can definitely use your artificial sweetener of choice in the tea itself. It's a little trickier to make a syrup with artificial sweetener though. If you try it, please let us know how it turns out in the comments.
Do I have to use hot water?
Yes. Strawberry Sweet Tea depends on the heat of the water to fully dissolve the sugar and meld the strawberry syrup flavors with lemon juice and tea.
Do I really have to add ice?
Sweet teas are made to serve over ice, so if you really don't want a cold drink you'll need to water down the tea to taste.
HOW SHOULD I SWEETEN THE ICED TEA?
There are several ways you can sweeten iced tea. The easiest is to add sugar or honey. But you can also add in simple syrup to iced tea.
CAN ICED TEA GO BAD?
Yes, iced tea should generally be enjoyed within a few days of preparing it. Tea should not be left out more than 8 hours at room temperature.
More Easy Iced Tea Recipes
Peach Iced Tea. This delicious peach tea recipe is both refreshing and tasty.
McDonald's Sweet Tea Copycat Recipe. For the Southern sweet tea lovers, this sweetened tea is just like the one at the arches.
Fruity Iced Tea Flavor up your favorite fruit tea this summer.
Mint Simple Syrup - a great addition to tea or as a flavored water
More Strawberry Recipes
Strawberry Tea
Equipment
- 1 large pitcher
- 1 medium saucepan
- fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
Strawberry Syrup
- 2 cups strawberries sliced
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 cups water
- Ice
- 1 cup strawberry syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 5 Tea bags black tea
- 6 cups water
Strawberry Tea
Instructions
- Strawberry Syrup (make this first)
- Place all the ingredients in a small pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
- Cook, stirring occasionally for around 30 minutes or until the strawberries are soft.
- Remove from heat and strain strawberry puree into a container. Set aside to cool down.
- Strawberry Iced Tea
- Heat 2 cups of water over medium heat until it’s about to simmer.
- Turn off heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes and discard the tea bags.
- Add the sugar and stir to combine.
- Pour the strawberry syrup into a pitcher, add the tea and the remaining 5 cups of water.
- Finish by pouring the lemon juice and stirring once more.
- Fill with ice and serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Tamara
I've never been a tea fan at all, but somehow you make it look good. Also, love making strawberry syrup!!
Raquel
Thanks Tamara!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
I am going to try this one for sure. My husband will probably thank you for the recipe. He loves flavored sweet tea. Thanks for sharing it. Pinned. #HomeMattersParty
Raquel
Thanks for the pin Donna! Appreciate it!
Audrey
Turned out great!
Serena
Perfect for tea, but wondering about the strawberry syrup with lemonade as well. YUM!