Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (2024)

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Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (1)

Skip the photo tutorial - Jump straight to the recipe

Okay, I have to admit that I went a little overboard making up tea flavors for this post. As you will soon see for yourself, there is no limit to the number of different iced tea flavors you can invent. And it couldn't be easier.

I made all of these teas with things that I had in my pantry and fridge. Seriously. I decided to see what I could create with simple ingredients I had on hand.

If you haven't read my post How to Make Refrigerator Iced Tea, you need to understand that technique before trying the ideas in the post. That's the method I used in making all of these teas. I simply added different flavors to my jars of refrigerator tea.

I will explain the ingredients I used in these categories:

  • jams and preserves
  • fruit juices
  • fresh herbs
  • spices and flavorings
  • syrups and sweeteners

Here are the photos and details.

Skip the photo tutorial - Jump straight to the recipe

    Jams and preserves:I discovered that these work great for flavoring tea. They're packed with good fruity flavors and they add a touch of sweet to to the tea, too.

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    I didn't want the mushy fruit or seeds floating around in the tea--just wanted the fruit flavor. So, I put the preserves into a tea basket (explained in my refrigerator tea post). It turned out great! I put raspberry preserves into the tea basket, and ended up with delicious raspberry tea. Then I tried peach preserves, and that was delicious, too.SO EASY to add any flavor you want to your tea. You're only limited by the variety of preserves or jam that you have.

    Want it sugar free? Easy. Use sugar free preserves or jams.

    Even if you're using tea bags for the tea, a tea basket is perfect for straining out the fruit bits and letting the fruit flavor seep into the tea. So, you can put tea bags in the jar with tags hanging over the edge, then rest the tea basket in the jar on top of the tea bag strings. Like this:

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    Then put the fruit preserves of your choice in the basket, fill it with water, and let it steep in the fridge.

    Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (4)

    If you're using loose leaf tea, put the tea basket in the jar, add the tea leaves, then add the preserves right in there with the tea, fill with water, and let it steep.

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    Fruit juices: You can also add fruity flavor to your tea by mixing in fruit juices. Here are some juices that blend well with tea: pomegranate juice (loaded with antioxidants!), apricot nectar, black cherry juice, concentrated frozen lemonade. I also like grapefruit and orange juice with tea. The list goes on. Use your imagination!

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    Oops, I forgot to include apple cider in the last photo. It's one of my favorites to combine with tea. Don't want to leave that one out!

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    Spices and flavorings:cloves, crystallized ginger, almond extract, vanilla extract, cinnamon chunks or sticks. The tea basket allows you to add spices easily and let them steep with the tea in the fridge. These are good added to tea with or without fruit preserve flavoring or fruit juice.

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    Put the spices into the tea basket that's in the tea jar so that they flavor the tea but can easily be removed after the tea has brewed. Ground spices can be used, but they will end up at the bottom of the tea jar and your tea glass; that's why I prefer to use the whole and chunkier spices that I can strain out with the tea basket.

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    Here's my favorite addition: crystallized ginger. I love ginger tea. The crystallized ginger is sugar-coated, so it sweetens the tea along with adding a yummy ginger flavor. I put the ginger into a plastic bag and pound it with a meat pounder to flatten it and release more flavor(you can also pound it with a hammer or the bottom of a heavy skillet). Then I add the smashed ginger to the tea basket.

    Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (10)Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (11)

    Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (12)Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (13)

    You can also cut fresh mint right into the tea basket to make a mint flavored tea. Cutting the mint brings out more of the flavor in the oils of the leaves.

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    Sweeteners: If you like your tea sweetened, there are numerous ways to sweeten it up along with adding more flavor. Pictured below: maple syrup, caramel sauce, simple sugar syrup*, and honey. Agave syrup is another good option that stirs in well.

    *Simple Sugar Syrupdissolves instantly in the tea and is very convenient to have on hand, instead of having to stir sugar into your tea until it dissolves. It's made of equal parts sugar and water. I boil 1 cup of each until the sugar is dissolved and store the syrup in the refrigerator indefinitely. You can also zap the water and sugar in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring once after 1-1/2 minutes.(It's handy for making mojitos, too!).

    Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (15)

    Yes, that's right, you can use caramel sauce in your iced tea. I give you permission. It is completely legal, not to mention really, really tasty! It's also good in hot tea. I'll bet a little rum added to that caramel tea would be amazing. Why do I seem to have booze on my mind? Hmmm.

    Want it sugar free? Use your favorite sugar-free sweetener.

    As you can see, the sky is the limit here. There are so many ways to flavor your tea. And now the fun begins--deciding which flavors to combine.

    Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (16)

    FLAVORED TEA RECIPES:
    These measurements are all for making a full quart of each of the flavors pictured above.

    Raspberry Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea in the jar, add 1/2 cup raspberry preserves to the tea basket, fill jar with water.

    Apricot Almond Tea--Pour 1 cup apricot nectar into jar, add 1 teaspoon almond extract, add tea bags or basket of leaf tea, fill jar with water.

    Mint Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add a loosely packed 1/2 cup of mint leaves, cutting the mint into the tea basket; fill jar with water.

    Apple Spice Tea--Pour 1 cup apple cider into jar; add tea bags or basket of leaf tea; add 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tablespoon cinnamon chunks) and 1 teaspoon whole cloves to tea basket; fill jar with water.

    Caramel Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add 3-4 tablespoons caramel sauce; fill jar with water.

    Pomegranate Tea--Pour 1 cup pomegranate juice into jar, add tea bags or basket of leaf tea, fill jar with water.

    Lemonade Tea--Pour 1/2 cup of lemonade concentrate (from frozen can) into jar,add tea bags or basket of leaf tea, fill jar with water. (This is similar to Arnold Palmer Tea.)

    Cherry Vanilla Tea--Pour 1 cup cherry juice into jar; add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; add tea bags or basket of leaf tea; fill jar with water.

    NOT PICTURED, BUT OTHER COMBINATIONS TO TRY:

    Caramel Apple Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add 3-4 tablespoons caramel sauce; add 1 cup apple cider; fill jar with water.

    Ginger Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add 1 tablespoon crushed crystallized ginger to tea basket; fill jar with water.

    Ginger Peach Tea--Same as Ginger Tea above, plus add 1/2 cup peach preserves to tea basket or 1 cup peach nectar before filling jar with water.

    NOTE: My intention was to have these drinks have added flavors but still taste like tea. If you want them fruitier, increase the amounts of the fruit preserves or juices. If you like sweeter teas, increase the sweeteners. In other words, the above quantities are a starting point. Play around with these and find the combo that fits your tastes.

    MAKE IT A COCKTAIL!
    You can add a shot of rum or flavored liqueur to any of these flavored teas.

    MY BASIC FORMULAS FOR 1 QUART OF FLAVORED TEA:

    • add 1/2 cup fruit preserves to the tea basket
    • add 1 cup of fruit juice or nectar to the jar
    • add 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, or 2 tablespoons crushed crystallized ginger to the tea basket
    • add a sprig of a fresh mint or other herb into the tea basket; cut it up for more flavor
    • add 1 teaspoon of extracts like vanilla and almond flavoring to the jar
    • sweeteners should be added according to your individual taste; some like tea sweet, some don't (I like mine in between--just a little bit sweet)
    • add a shot of rum or flavored liqueur to a glass before adding the flavored tea

    -----------------------------

    This could go on and on. So, I'll stop now.

    Time to take a break and enjoy a refreshing glass of Apple Spice Tea. With a snickerdoodle. (Wait. Where did I put that bottle of rum?)

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    I hope you have fun trying these recipes or inventing your own. Please share with me the flavored tea combinations you conjure up. I'd love to hear your ideas and add your recipes to my list.

    Make it a yummy day!

    Other posts that may interest you:

    • Spiced Hot Drink Mix--for cider, cocoa, coffee, tea, juice, or wine
    • Maple Pumpkin Spice Lattes

    Flavored Refrigerator Iced Tea

    By Monica Servings: 1 quart

    Ingredients

    • 4 tea bags or 4 teaspoons loose leaf tea
    • 4 cups tap or room temperature water
    • FOR ADDING FLAVORS, CHOOSE FROM:
    • 1/2 cup fruit jam or preserves
    • 1 cup fruit juice/drink (pomegranate juice, apricot nectar, black cherry juice, grapefruit & orange juice, apple cider, etc.)
    • 1/3 cup thawed frozen juice/drink concentrate (lemonade, orange juice, etc.)
    • spices (2 cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, 2 tablespoons crushed crystallized ginger, etc.)
    • sprig of fresh herbs (mint, lavender, rosemary, basil, thyme), chopped
    • 1 teaspoon extract (vanilla or almond)
    • 2-4 tablespoons flavored syrups/sauces (maple, blueberry, caramel, etc.)
    • additional sweeteners to taste, if desired (sugar, simple syrup, honey, agave syrup, etc.)
    • shot of alcohol (rum, flavored liqueurs, etc.) per glass of flavored tea

    Directions

    These recipes use the refrigerator tea method. No boiling water or steeping in the sun. Combine the ingredients, and let them steep in the fridge. Read more about making refrigerator tea at http://theyummylife.com/blog/2010/08/22

    Use a 1-quart Mason jar or pitcher. A tea basket or ball is needed for adding flavors using jam/preserves, herbs, or spices.
    --If using tea bags: hang tea bags inside pitcher or jar with strings hanging over the rim (for easy removal later). Add jam/preserves or spices to tea basket or ball and insert in pitcher or jar. Add fruit juices or extracts to jar/pitcher. Add water making sure that tea and added flavorings are immersed, cover, and put in fridge for 6-12 hours. Remove tea bags, basket, or balls and serve. (Read full blog post for detailed photos of this procedure.)
    --If using loose leaf tea: add 4 teaspoons tea leaves to a tea basket, tea ball or tea filter bag. Add flavors and water as described above.

    FLAVOR SUGGESTIONS:
    ~Raspberry Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea in the jar, add 1/2 cup raspberry preserves to the tea basket, fill jar with water.
    ~Apricot Almond Tea--Pour 1 cup apricot nectar into jar, add 1 teaspoon almond extract, add tea bags or basket of leaf tea, fill jar with water.
    ~Mint Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add a loosely packed 1/2 cup of mint leaves, cutting the mint into the tea basket; fill jar with water.
    ~Apple Spice Tea--Pour 1 cup apple cider into jar; add tea bags or basket of leaf tea; add 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tablespoon cinnamon chunks) and 1 teaspoon whole cloves to tea basket; fill jar with water.
    ~Caramel Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add 3-4 tablespoons caramel sauce; fill jar with water.
    ~Pomegranate Tea--Pour 1 cup pomegranate juice into jar, add tea bags or basket of leaf tea, fill jar with water.
    ~Lemonade Tea--Pour 1/2 cup of lemonade concentrate (from frozen can) into jar, add tea bags or basket of leaf tea, fill jar with water. (This is similar to Arnold Palmer Tea.)
    ~Cherry Vanilla Tea--Pour 1 cup cherry juice into jar; add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; add tea bags or basket of leaf tea; fill jar with water.
    ~Caramel Apple Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add 3-4 tablespoons caramel sauce; add 1 cup apple cider; fill jar with water.
    ~Ginger Tea--Put tea bags or basket of leaf tea into jar; add 1 tablespoon crushed crystallized ginger to tea basket; fill jar with water.
    ~Ginger Peach Tea--Same as Ginger Tea above, plus add 1/2 cup peach preserves to tea basket or 1 cup peach nectar before filling jar with water.

    MAKE IT A COCKTAIL:
    Add a shot of rum or flavored liqueur to your glass, and then fill it with flavored tea.

      Flavored Iced Tea Recipes (2024)

      FAQs

      What does adding baking soda to iced tea do? ›

      Once you've brewed your ice-tea a dash of baking soda helps to neutralize the tannin content, offering a smoother taste, and reducing that murky appearance. The tannin content is high in black tea and green tea, so be sure to add baking soda if you're using these types of tea.

      What to add to iced tea to make it better? ›

      Spices, Herbs & Fruit Juice: The ultimate natural sweeteners. Some herbs and spices (cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, lemongrass) can add a subtle sweetness to black tea, but they might overpower green tea.

      What to put in tea for flavor? ›

      Iced Green Tea Flavor Pairings
      1. Ginger, Lemongrass & Mint.
      2. Honey, Raspberries & Lemon.
      3. Berry Medleys (Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry) & Sugar.

      What is the most popular Flavoured tea? ›

      The world's most popular teas are:
      • Darjeeling.
      • Chai.
      • English Breakfast.
      • Earl Grey.
      • Green tea.
      • Matcha tea.
      • Oolong.
      • Ceylon.
      Apr 17, 2024

      Why does my homemade iced tea get cloudy? ›

      If you have ever tried brewing tea at home over ice you might have created a cloudy, or even muddy, iced tea. Certain teas are susceptible to fast temperature changes. Shocking the tea, from hot to iced, quickly creates a chemical reaction that severely clouds the tea.

      How much baking soda should I put in my tea? ›

      The secret to the clearest, smoothest glass of sweet tea is just a pinch of baking soda. And when we say "a pinch," we mean it. Our best-ever recipe calls for just 1/8 teaspoon of the stuff.

      What makes iced tea bitter? ›

      Tannins cause bitterness

      They are found in all teas, as well as red wine and other foods. If you are curious about what a lot of tannins feels like in your mouth, try chewing on a grape skin and you will notice it has an almost mouth drying effect.

      What do restaurants use to make iced tea? ›

      Restaurants use a variety of tea brands to make their signature iced teas. Some brew it themselves with bagged, loose leaf or powdered teas while others use tea concentrate, while still more use ready-serve tea.

      How do you get the best flavor out of tea? ›

      If your brew is bitter, vegetal, or dry after even a short infusion, try using less tea for a sweeter flavor. On the other hand, if every infusion tastes like hot water, try using more leaf to up the ante.

      Can you use regular tea bags for iced tea? ›

      A classic base for iced tea is regular tea bags. They allow you to be freer with your flavourings.

      How to make your own flavoured tea? ›

      Citrus, apples, berries, and the leaves of fruit make for delicious dehydrated additions to homemade tea blends. Dehydrated fruit and fruit leaves are often combined with store-bought white tea leaves, which have a mild flavor, to create a delicate yet slightly sweet blend. Ginger (dehydrated or fresh) also pairs well.

      What tea flavors go well together? ›

      Black tea is a very bold tea and pairs well with other bold flavors: citrus, hibiscus, chocolate. A mild green tea can lean towards the typical Asian flavors: ginger, lemongrass; whereas, a bolder green tea can be paired with light fruity flavors: blackberry, pomegranate, lemon.

      What is your favorite iced tea? ›

      Green iced tea is perhaps the most popular category of ice tea. You can have it as is or make the most delicious and refreshing green iced tea by simply adding some ginger, ice, and sugar or honey.

      What is the sweetest flavor of tea? ›

      Best Teas for Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth
      • Strawberry Cream Tea. ...
      • Tropical Passion Tea. ...
      • Orchard Peach Iced Tea. ...
      • Vanilla Ceylon Tea. ...
      • Pomegranate Blueberry Tea.
      Nov 16, 2020

      What is the most popular blend of tea? ›

      English breakfast tea is the most popular black tea blend. It has a very strong taste in the cup. It's a perfect blend and works well with milk and sugar. Further, this typical blend is made from premium quality tea leaves sourced from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Assam (India), and Kenya.

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