Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe

4 from 2 votes

This strawberry iced tea recipe uses fresh strawberries and real black tea -- not a powder, not a mix. A quick strawberry concentrate combined with properly brewed tea produces a drink that tastes like actual fruit, not pink water.

Course Drinks, Iced Tea

Cuisine American

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Cooling Time 30

Total Time 55

Servings 4 glasses

Calories 60kcal

Author Zoe Tanaka

Cost $5

Equipment

1 Small saucepan
1 Fine mesh strainer
1 Large pitcher

Ingredients

Strawberry Concentrate

2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and sliced; frozen work in off-season
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

Tea Base

4 bags black tea
4 cups hot water just below boiling -- 200F
1 lemon sliced, for serving
ice as needed

Instructions

Make the Strawberry Concentrate

Combine sliced strawberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until the berries are completely soft and the liquid is a deep red.
Press through a fine mesh strainer, extracting all liquid. Discard the solids. Let the concentrate cool to room temperature.

Brew and Combine

Steep 4 tea bags in 4 cups of 200F water for 8 minutes exactly. Remove bags without squeezing -- squeezing adds bitterness. Let the tea cool.
Once both are at room temperature, pour the tea into a large pitcher and stir in the strawberry concentrate. Taste and adjust -- add more concentrate for a stronger strawberry flavor or a squeeze of lemon for brightness.
Refrigerate until cold (minimum 30 minutes), then serve over ice with a lemon slice. Keeps refrigerated for 3 days.

Notes

Fresh strawberries at peak ripeness make the biggest difference in flavor.

Always combine tea and concentrate only after both are at room temperature -- warm liquid added to cold causes cloudiness.

For a stronger strawberry flavor, reduce concentrate by simmering 5 extra minutes.