This Healthy Homemade Iced Tea recipe is a refreshing drink for summer! 3 ingredients, NO refined sugar or artificial sweeteners – Under 50 calories per serving!
I don’t know about you all, but I am absolutely THRILLED that we’re well into spring and summer is just around the corner. There’s almost nothing better than sitting outside on a warm day with a tall glass of something refreshing, and this Healthy Homemade Iced Tea is my first choice for a delicious summer drink. If you’re a fan of iced tea, you’re going to LOVE this recipe!
Conventional Iced Tea can be so high in calories and packed with unnecessary sugar and if you’re buying powdered iced tea from the grocery store you’ll know exactly what I mean. Making your own homemade iced tea is a great way to reduce your sugar intake and this Healthy Homemade Iced Tea contains no refined sugar at all, and no artificial sweeteners.
Using honey as a sweetener for summer drinks is a great way to add flavour with a hint of sweetness, without making them overly sugary. Honey is the best ingredient in this healthy iced tea recipe!
(For more summer drinks using honey as a sweetener, try my Healthy 3-Ingredient Lemonade!)
If you prefer a different natural sweetener, maple syrup and agave nectar also work well in this recipe.
Mason jars are my favourite kitchen tool to have on hand for serving recipes like this Healthy Homemade Iced Tea. They’re so cute, they’re the perfect size for your favourite drinks, and they’re dishwasher-safe. Get my favourite go-to Mason jars HERE (affiliate link).
You’ll also need a pitcher that’s heat-safe (you could also use a heat-safe bowl, a pot, or a large pyrex liquid measuring cup).
- Black or Orange Pekoe Tea (any brand will do – Lipton, Red Rose, etc.)
- Fresh lemons
- Ice
- Honey, or your favourite vegan liquid sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar (OR stevia, to make it low carb)
Time needed: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Follow these tips for the BEST homemade iced tea.
- Brew the tea first.
Add the tea bags to hot water in a pot or heat-safe pitcher.
- Sweeten the tea while it’s hot.
Add the honey and stir until it dissolves.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Let the tea sit in the fridge to chill.
- Serve over ice.
Pour the iced tea into your favourite glasses over ice with a lemon slice.
What is the healthiest kind of iced tea?
The healthiest kind of iced tea is homemade iced tea made without refined sugar.
Can iced tea be healthy?
Yes, iced tea can be a healthy drink if you make it yourself at home, either unsweetened or with a sweetener that’s refined sugar-free like honey or maple syrup.
Can you make iced tea from tea bags?
Yes, add the tea bags to hot water to brew the tea, dissolve the honey, then chill until ready to serve.
Is homemade iced tea good for you?
Homemade iced tea can be good for you, especially if it contains a limited amount of sugar or other sweetener.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes! Simply store this iced tea in the fridge and serve over ice within 4-5 days.
Looking for more refreshing drinks for summer? TRY MY DAIRY-FREE MOCHA CARAMEL FRAPPUCCINO, OR THIS SPARKLING PEACH MANGO REFRESHER!
We hope you love this homemade iced tea recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite summer drink? We’d love to know!
Looking for more delicious recipes like this? You’ll love these:
EASY HEALTHY SUMMER ENTERTAINING RECIPES AND COOKING & BAKING TIPS
Get my easy healthy summer entertaining e-cookbook!
Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find many more deliciously simple recipe videos on our YouTube channel!
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Healthy Iced Tea
Recipe: Ingredients
- 8 cups boiling water
- 3 bags black tea use decaffeinated black tea if desired
- 1/4 cup liquid honey
- 4-6 lemon slices
- 4 cups ice cubes
Recipe: Instructions
- Add the boiling water to a heat-safe jug or pitcher and drop in the tea bags. You could also use a pot if you don't have a large enough pitcher or jug.
- Let steep for about 7 minutes.
- Add the honey and lemon slices, and stir well until the honey dissolves.
- Place the jug in the fridge for about 2 hours (or overnight). You can remove the tea bags after 1 hour if you wish, but leaving them in creates a stronger, more concentrated iced tea.
- Before serving remove the tea bags and add the ice. Stir well and serve.
Recipe: Notes
Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
What size tea bags? I use 6 big ones or 12 small ones.d
Any size tea bag will work for this recipe.
Looks delicious and healthy!
One serving yields 2 cups?
So, in total, this recipe will produce 12 (8 fl oz) cups?
Yes!
Spend your summer holidays with these tasty delicious ice tea which has wide variety of unique flavors in it.
Sorry but I will still use my SWEETENER!!
This ice tea is great and also you can add orange pekoe tea in your ice tea which really taste good and also has many health benefits like their fight obesity.
I love HEALTHY HOMEMADE ICED TEA. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
We’re so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
This is delicious! Iced tea is a powerhouse of nutrients and when consumed unsweetened, it keeps your calories. A glass of iced tea keeps you fuller for long.
We’re so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
Your blog is best. Thank you!
We’re so happy you are enjoying it! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
Your posts are very informative. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
Olinda tea is best tea ever
Your blog is best, you have really awesome posts.
Thank you!
HIIIIIII I was looking for a good iced tea recipe and here it is!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
If I add lemon juice instead of real lemons , will it still taste the same??
Depending on your lemon juice it might taste fake.