Sweet Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe

A refreshing sweet strawberry iced tea recipe, made with real strawberries! This tea is full of bright, summer flavors. Serve this delicious iced tea at your next BBQ or too cool off around the pool! This is an easy make-ahead recipe.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Strawberry Iced Tea

Strawberry Iced Tea is a refreshing beverage that blends the rich flavors of tea with the sweet taste of fresh summer strawberries. This delightful concoction is a fusion of traditional iced tea and vibrant homemade strawberry syrup, resulting in a cold drink that not only quenches your thirst but also tickles your taste buds. The bold tea notes perfectly balance the bright sweetness of the strawberries making it a well-rounded and satisfying drink. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, Strawberry Iced Tea is a versatile beverage that complements any meal and fits any occasion – be it a hot summer day or a cozy family gathering. It’s more than just a drink, it’s a flavor-packed experience that brings a taste of summer in every sip.

Why You Will Love Iced Strawberry Tea

• Made with fresh real ingredients.
• Easy to Make and Customize.
• Bright beautiful color.
• Make ahead drink recipe.

Ingredients

• Fresh Ripe Strawberries – Use in-season strawberries for the sweetest results! 
• Black Tea – For this recipe I used 2 family-sized Lipton tea bags to make 8 cups of tea. However, you can use regular-sized tea bags at the ratio of 1 tea bag per cup of water. For loose-leaf tea, you can use 1 teaspoon of tea per cup of water. You can also use a different black tea. Lipton is my favorite for iced tea.
• Filtered Water – Did you know water plays an important role in the taste and aroma of tea? Use your best water for making this iced tea recipe.
• Sugar – I used regular granulated sugar for this recipe. It dissolves quickly and adds only sweetness to the tea.

How to Make Strawberry Iced Tea

Start by making steeping your tea. You can either cold brew black tea by adding tea to a refrigerator-safe pitcher with a fitted lid and refrigerate for 12 hours before removing the tea bags. (I use a large mason jar with a lid.) If you are steeping with hot water, pour hot water over the tea and steep for 5-6 minutes. Remove tea bags being sure to squeeze out all the liquid back into the tea. Set prepared tea aside. (Storing in the refrigerator is perfect at this stage)

Next, rinse and cut the tops off of the strawberries finishing by slicing them thinly. You will need at least 1 cup although it doesn’t have to be exact.

Add strawberries, 1 cup of water, and sugar to a small saucepan over low heat. Stir the sugar into the water to avoid burning the sugar and allow the mixture to simmer.

Continue to cook over low heat for another several minutes letting the berries infuse into the sugar and water.

Strain out cooked strawberries and pour the syrup into a jar and allow to fully cool.

Once the tea and strawberry syrup have fully cooled, mix together in a large pitcher. Serve over ice and enjoy!

Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Garnish with citrus such as lemon slices.
• Add a few springs of herbs for garnish and flavor such as mint, basil, or rosemary. Mint and basil are wonderful compliments to strawberries!
• Use in-season strawberries for the most juicy and sweet strawberries.

Strawberry Sweet Tea Variations

• Use different fruits to flavor your tea such as raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries! 
• Want to sweeten without sugar? Try using honey or agave for natural sweetness in your tea. Keep in mind that each of these sweetness may add another flavor profile to your tea.
• If you prefer a spicier kick to your drink try adding a pinch of freshly grated ginger or a sprinkle of cinnamon. 
• Make strawberry mint iced tea by infusing fresh mint with tea.
• Add a little bubble to your tea and top with lemon-lime soda for an extra fizzy finish! 

Caffeine

A common question about iced tea is does it have caffeine? The short answer is yes, it does contain caffeine. Having said that, you can make a caffeine-free version using rooibos tea. (Red tea) This is an herbal tea that tastes surprisingly similar to black tea.

Serving

Once you have mixed together tea and strawberry syrup this sweet strawberry tea is ready to serve! Enjoy over ice to an extra frosty drink. Add strawberry slices to the serving pitcher for garnish. Serve with a side of fresh lemon slices and a few springs of herbs like mint, rosemary, or basil.

Storage

It’s really recommended to not store prepared iced tea for too long. However, this iced tea will stay fresh for up to 2 days. Store properly in the refrigerator in an air-tight container until ready to serve. 

FAQs

Is Strawberry Iced Tea Good for You? 

Strawberry Iced Tea can be a healthy and refreshing beverage that packs a nutritional punch. The combination of black tea, strawberries, and lemon juice provides antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that may be beneficial to your health. However, this recipe does contain sugar which does not carry any nutritional value. If you want to avoid sugar, consider replaying the sugar in this recipe with naturally occurring sugar such as honey or stevia.

Can You Make This Recipe Without Sugar?

Yes! You can use sugar alternatives such as honey or agave for natural sweetness in your tea. 

Can You Make This Recipe Alcoholic? 

Yes, you can make a boozy version of this recipe! Add your favorite and adjust to taste.

Can I Use Frozen Berries Instead? 

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries if you prefer! Simply thaw out the strawberries before cooking them. You. May want to reduce the amount of water as frozen berries have higher water content. However, in season fresh berries will give a juicier and sweeter taste to your Strawberry Iced Tea. 

How Long Does the Prepared Drink Last? 

It is really not recommended to store prepared iced tea for too long. However, this iced tea will stay fresh in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container, for up to 2 days. To ensure maximum taste and freshness it’s best to enjoy your Strawberry Iced Tea the day of making it!

More Ice Tea Recipes You Will Love!

• Tamarind Iced Tea
• Iced London Fog
• Iced Roselle Tea
• Iced Butterfly Tea
• Iced Dirty Matcha Latte
• Peach Iced Tea

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