3 Herbal Iced Tea Recipes for Summer

Southern culture dictates that you must drink iced tea before summer ends — preferably on your porch and by the (sweetened) gallon. These unique herbal iced tea recipes will help keep your spirits high and your herb garden in use as the sun sets on summer.

1. Watermelon & Basil Iced Tea

This herbal iced tea is our summer go-to. Fresh basil adds a unique flair to this fruity tea. This concoction is perfect for pool days, family gatherings, and late nights on the porch. After all, is there anything more refreshing than watermelon and basil paired?

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups boiling water
• 8 black tea bags
• ⅛ medium-sized watermelon, cut into small triangles
• 1 small bunch fresh basil sprigs
• Sugar, to taste

HOW-TO:

1. Pour the water into a heat-resistant pitcher. Add the tea bags and let steep for 10 minutes.
2. Remove and discard the bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Add the watermelon, basil, and sugar, and pour over ice.

2. Mint Lemonade Iced Tea

Iced cold lemonade and iced tea are two summer classics, so it just makes sense to combine them, right? This herbal iced tea recipe is ideal for warm weather with its sweet minty meets tangy lemon flavor. Your kids will request this one again and again. Throw in some bourbon or dark spiced rum for the adults around!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups of water
• 2 family-sized black tea bags
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• ½ cup of sugar
• 4 cups cold water
• 1 6 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• Fresh citrus slices, for garnish

HOW-TO:

1. Bring 3 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and stir in fresh mint. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
2. Remove and discard tea bags and mint. Stir in sugar until dissolved.
3. Pour tea into a 3 qt container and stir in 4 cups cold water and lemonade concentrate. Serve over ice, and garnish.
4. If you desire, stir in 1 cup bourbon or 1 cup spiced dark rum.

3. Mock Iced Tea Sangria

It’s fruity sangria, but for the whole family. With raspberry, lemon, and orange flavor as this herbal iced tea’s base, you may be surprised to see thyme on the ingredients list but trust us: this is a match made in flavor heaven. For best effect, throw whole chunks of fruit into the pitcher — just like the real thing.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 10 oz. package frozen raspberries, thawed
• ⅓ cup of sugar
• 1 family-sized black tea bag
• 2 cups red grape juice
• 1½ lemon, sliced
• Thyme sprigs, to taste
• 1 16 oz. bottle orange soft drink, chilled

HOW-TO:

1. Process raspberries in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides. Pour puree through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large container, discarding raspberry seeds.
2. Bring sugar and 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring often. Remove from heat; add tea bag. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
3. Remove tea bag with a slotted spoon and let cool slightly. Stir together raspberry puree, tea mixture, grape juice, lemon slices, and thyme sprigs. Cover and chill 2 hours. Add an orange soft drink and serve immediately over ice.
4. Stir in orange soft drink and serve immediately over ice.