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Refreshing Peach Basil Iced Tea

peach basil iced tea - featured image

A simple, refreshing homemade iced tea combining fresh peaches and fragrant basil for a perfect summer drink that is both delicious and comforting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 34 medium ripe peaches, sliced
  • 1012 large fresh basil leaves, gently bruised
  • 4 black tea bags
  • 4 cups (1 liter) filtered water
  • 23 tablespoons honey or agave syrup (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Ice cubes for serving
  • Optional: mint leaves for garnish
  • Optional: sparkling water for fizz
  • Optional: peach slices for decoration

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 cups (1 liter) of filtered water to a rolling boil in a saucepan (about 5-7 minutes).
  2. Wash and slice 3-4 ripe peaches into thin wedges; no need to peel.
  3. Remove boiling water from heat and add 4 black tea bags. Steep for exactly 5 minutes.
  4. Remove tea bags and stir in 2-3 tablespoons honey or preferred sweetener while tea is warm.
  5. Transfer sweetened tea to a pitcher. Add sliced peaches and gently bruise 10-12 basil leaves, then add to the tea.
  6. Add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, stir gently, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  7. Serve over ice cubes, garnished with extra peach slices or basil sprigs if desired.

Notes

[‘Use ripe peaches for best flavor; let unripe peaches sit at room temperature for a day or two.’, ‘Do not over-steep tea to avoid bitterness; 5 minutes is ideal.’, ‘Gently bruise basil leaves to release aroma without bitterness.’, ‘Add sweetener while tea is warm to ensure it dissolves completely.’, ‘Chill tea thoroughly for best taste; overnight steeping enhances flavor.’, ‘Adjust sweetness or strength by adding more water or less sweetener as needed.’, ‘If tea tastes too strong or sweet after chilling, dilute with cold water or sparkling water.’, ‘Avoid adding lemon juice before steeping to prevent cloudiness.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: peach iced tea, basil iced tea, summer drink, refreshing beverage, homemade iced tea, peach basil tea, iced tea recipe