Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe

A bright, fresh strawberry iced tea made with real macerated strawberries and double-strength black tea. Ready in 35 minutes with 10 minutes of active work, plus a sparkling variation that works even better in summer.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword fresh strawberry tea, homemade iced tea, strawberry iced tea, strawberry iced tea recipe, summer drinks

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Macerating Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings 4 glasses

Calories 75kcal

Author Zoe Tanaka

Cost $4

Equipment

1 Large pitcher (64 oz)
1 Fine mesh strainer
1 Medium bowl for macerating strawberries

Ingredients

Strawberry Syrup

1 lb fresh strawberries hulled and halved
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 lemon juiced

Iced Tea Base

6 black tea bags Lipton or similar plain black tea
2 cups boiling water for double-strength brew
4 cups cold water
2 cups ice cubes plus more for serving

Instructions

Make the Strawberry Syrup

Place hulled and halved strawberries in a medium bowl. Pour the sugar over them and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a plate and let sit at room temperature for 25 to 30 minutes. The strawberries will release their juice and the mixture will smell sharp and jammy -- that is your signal they are ready.
Pour the macerated strawberries through a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl or pitcher. Press firmly with a spoon or spatula to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the solids. Stir in the lemon juice and set the syrup aside.

Brew the Tea

Bring 2 cups of water to a full boil. Add 6 tea bags and steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Do not steep longer or the tea will turn bitter. Remove the bags without squeezing them -- squeezing releases tannins that make the tea harsh.
Let the brewed tea cool on the counter until it reaches room temperature. Do not refrigerate it while it is hot -- hot tea chilled quickly turns cloudy and the flavor goes flat. This takes about 20 minutes.
Combine the cooled tea with 4 cups of cold water in a large pitcher. Add 2 cups of ice cubes and stir well.

Combine and Serve

Pour the strawberry syrup into the pitcher. Stir well to combine. Taste and adjust -- add more lemon juice to cut sweetness, or a splash more syrup if you want stronger strawberry flavor.
Fill glasses with fresh ice cubes. Pour the strawberry iced tea over the ice and garnish with a fresh strawberry slice or a lemon wheel. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftover tea in a covered pitcher for up to 3 days.

Notes

Fresh strawberries produce a noticeably deeper color and stronger flavor than frozen. If using frozen, reduce the cold water by 1/4 cup to account for extra liquid released during thawing. For a sparkling version, replace 1 cup of the cold water with chilled sparkling water when serving. The strawberry syrup can be made 5 days ahead and stored in a sealed jar in the fridge.