How to Make Mint Tea with Fresh Mint Leaves

The best mint tea made from fresh mint leaves! Whether you decide to purchase from your local grocery or gather from your garden, you are sure to love this refreshing, healthful, mint tea!

Summer is in full swing in my hometown, with the average temp hitting over 90°F. It’s perfect for a dip in the pool or sitting on the patio with a tall refreshing glass of iced tea. My garden is also abounding in mint which grows almost like a weed, taking over every patch it is planted in. I don’t consider this a problem though as I have many uses for it. I always add a sprig or two to any of my fruity iced teas and once I’ve gathered enough, I like to make tall pitchers of mint tea.

This tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, but I prefer it cold and with sweetener. After steeping the tea, I transfer it to a pitcher and refrigerate it until cold!

What is in Mint Tea?

Mint tea is fresh mint leaves steeped in hot water to release their fresh flavor. This tea is so refreshing any time of the year, but in my opinion, it tastes especially good sweetened and iced in the summertime!

Mint Tea Benefits

Mint is an amazingly fragrant herb with a surprising amount of positive health benefits. It is easily grown in many gardens with a wide variety of species. Mint also contains many nutrients including vitamin A, C, and iron. Mint is widely known for its wonderful fresh aroma and cooling effect.

How to Make Mint Tea

This tea is pretty simple to make.

Supplies

• Tea Pot
• Kettle (or small pot with lid)
• Tea Infuser (optional)

Ingredients

• 10 Fresh Mint Sprigs (from your garden or local grocery)
• 2 Cups Filtered Water
• Sweetener

Instructions

• Add water to the kettle on the stovetop or electric kettle and bring to a low boil.
• Rinse all the dirt and organic matter from mint leaves.
• Lightly bruise or crush mint leaves to release the flavors using a mortar and pestle. Or use the back end of a wooden cooking spoon)
• Add mint to tea infuser or drop strain into your tea pot.
• Pour hot water or mint.
• Steep for up to 20 minutes.
• Enjoy hot or refrigerate.

Variations and Tips

• Try cold brewing (recipe coming soon!)
• Add honey and lemon slices to make honey citrus mint tea.
• Sweeten cold tea using a liquid sugar.
• Sweeten with honey, stevia, sugar, or another favorite sweetener.
• Use fresh filtered water.
• Steep in a french press. I find this is the easiest way to make tea. Simply pour hot water over mint leaves, add top and allow to steep. When finished, press the lid down and enjoy your tea!

How to Serve Tea

This tea can be enjoyed hot or cold.

• Hot Tea: Once the tea has finished steeping, discard the mint sprigs and pour directly into your tea cup and enjoy. You can also add a lemon slice or any sweetener you like best. At this stage, most sweeteners easily mix or dissolve into the hot liquid.
• Iced Tea: After steeping the tea, discard tea leaves and transfer to a glass pitcher add sweetener if desired, and refrigerate. (I find that a mason jar with a plastic lid works perfectly) Once the tea is cold pour into glasses filled with ice and enjoy!

How to Store Prepared Tea

Tea should be covered and refrigerated for long-term storage. Most teas will stay fresh if refrigerated for up to 5 days. If your tea should start to develop an off color or smell, discard immediately.

MORE TEAS YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Rose Hip Tea
• Ginger Chai
• Vanilla Chai
• Cold Brew Green Tea
• Brown Sugar Milk Tea

I hope you enjoy this tea recipe. Leave a comment below and let’s connect!