How to Make Herbal Iced Tea with Fresh Herbs

Learn how to make herbal iced tea with fresh garden herbs. I love growing and using fresh or dried herbs for hot tea, but I also love using fresh herbs to make light and refreshing herbal iced tea.  Keep reading for the how to.

steeping tea and ready to drink
Steeping banana mint. On the left lemon balm/lemon thyme herbal tea with lemon and on the right banana mint with lemon.

Also Read: Top 9 Herbs to Grow for Tea, Simple Syrup with Herbs, How to Muddle Herbs for Beverages, How to Brew Fresh or Dried Herbs for Tea

lemon verbena iced tea in a glass
Use fresh herbs for hot or iced tea. This is iced lemon verbena herb tea.

How to Brew Herbal Iced Tea 

Here’s the general process I use for making iced tea with garden herbs. Read here for brewing hot herbal tea.

  • Boil water (100°C/212°F). 
  • Gently rub fresh herbs between fingers or palms to start releasing aroma.
  • Place 1/4 cup of fresh herbs per 1 cup of hot water in a glass pitcher. 
  • Pour boiling water over herbs.
  • Cover and steep for 20* minutes. Brew extra strong so flavour will be vibrant when adding ice.
  • Remove herbs and if desired, sweeten tea, with sugar, honey or other sweeteners so it will dissolve. Otherwise, use simple syrup to sweeten when tea is cold.
  • Cool for 2 hours on counter then refrigerate to keep cool. Store in fridge for 5-7 days.
  • Pour over ice and enjoy.

**Most garden herbs can be steeped for a long time, but some herbs release a bitter flavour if steeped too long. Only steep chamomile, lavender, rosemary, rose, orange/lemon peel for 3 minutes or alternatively steep in cold water overnight (cold water will not cause bitterness).

 Cover while steeping just like any tea.
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5 from 1 vote

Herbal Iced Tea

Make herbal iced tea with fresh garden herbs. I love growing fresh herbs to make light and refreshing herbal iced tea. I often brew tea from fresh herbs when I’ve done some pruning and have a handful of clippings.
Prep : 20 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water boiled to 100℃/212℉
  • 1 bag black, green or oolong tea optional
  • ½ cup fresh herbs

Instructions

  • Place herbs in heat safe jar/teapot. Muddle (gently rub, bruise or crush) fresh herbs to release their essential oils.
  • Add tea bags, if using.
  • Pour 2 cups boiling water over herbs.
  • Cover and let steep for 20* minutes. Brew extra strong so flavour will be vibrant when adding ice.
  • Remove herbs/strain and sweeten** with honey, sugar or other sweeteners.
  • Cool for 2 hours on counter then refrigerate to keep cool. Store in fridge for 5-7 days.
  • Pour over ice to serve.

Video

Notes

*Most garden herbs can be steeped for a long time, but some herbs release a bitter flavour if steeped too long. Only steep chamomile, lavender, rosemary, rose, orange/lemon peel for 3 minutes or alternatively steep in cold water overnight (cold water will not cause bitterness).
**Use simple syrup to sweeten if tea is cold.
Tips for brewing homemade herbal tea
  • When muddling fresh herbs, don’t crush too hard otherwise you’ll release the green chlorophyll which can leave a bitter taste.
  • Choose one type of herb for your tea or combine several different ones. You could even add dried fruit, flower petals or spices like cinnamon or ginger to your tea.
  • Consider adding black, green or oolong tea to the mix. There are no set rules – base your combination on your personal preferences for flavor, colour, caffeine, medicinal benefits, etc.
  • Don’t expect bright vibrant colours like you get with commercial herbal teas.
  • If you want bright colours, consider adding hibiscus, calendula or blue butterfly pea blossoms to your herbal tea mix.
  • Lemon balm is best used fresh, it loses its flavour when dried.
Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Serving: 2g | Calories: 6kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 21mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Iron: 1mg
Course: beverage, tea
Keyword: family friendly drinks, herbs, patio drinks

Tips & Options for Making Herbal Iced Teas

  • Muddle (gently rub, bruise or crush) fresh herbs to release their essential oils. Don’t crush too hard though, otherwise you’ll release the green chlorophyll which can leave a bitter taste.
  • Choose one type of herb for your tea or use a combination. You could even add flower petals or spices like cinnamon or ginger to your tea.
  • Don’t expect bright vibrant colours like you get with commercial herbal teas unless you add ingredients like hibiscus, calendula or blue butterfly pea blossoms to your herbal tea mix.
  • Consider adding black, green or oolong tea to the mix. I use 1 tea bag or 1 teaspoon loose leaf tea for every 2 cups of water.
lemon verbena iced tea with black tea
Lemon verbena iced tea with black tea. I use 1 tea bag per two cups and remove it from steeping after about 3-4 minutes to avoid any bitterness.

How To Sweeten Herbal Iced Teas

If you wish to sweeten your iced tea here are three options:

  1. Add fresh stevia leaves with herbs and brew together. Stevia, also known as the sugar plant, will add a natural sweetness to your tea. It does have a unique flavour, so test it out and see if you like it before serving to guests.
  2. Add sweeteners that need to be dissolved like sugar or honey after brewing but while tea is still hot.
  3. Add simple syrup or other sweeteners that easily mix in cold liquid just before serving.
lemon verbena iced tea
Lemon verbena iced tea garnished with viola flower ice cubes and lemon. Use simple syrup to sweeten cold iced tea.

Favourite Herbs for Iced Tea

Here are the herbs I enjoy most for Iced Tea. Also read my post on Top 9 Herbs to Grow for Tea to see which herbs I enjoy growing for tea in my Canadian prairie garden rated to Zone3.

  • Hyssop – a lovely scent good for the heart, digestive system and for promoting sleep
  • Rosemary – stimulates circulation to soothe aches and pains, helps clear congestion and boosts mood and memory
  • Spearmint or Mojito Mint – great for soothing digestive issues
  • Apple Mint & Other Fruit Mints – mild mint with unique aromas and flavor good for digestion
  • Lemon Balm – helps clear the mind and lift spirits
  • Lemon Verbena – rejuvenating fresh scent helpful for indigestions, cramps and nausea
  • Lemon Grass – great flavor with properties to boost immune system * love this with ginger
  • Lemon Thyme – light lemony flavor beneficial for digestive system and colds
  • Thyme – helps with cramps and coughs
  • Stevia – the “sugar plant”, a natural sweetener for your tea
iced herbal tea with lemon verbena
Iced tea, with or without the caffeine of black tea using lemon verbena.

A Word of Caution about Herbs for Tea

All plants have properties in them that may cause allergies or undesirable side effects, especially if taken in large doses. The herbs for tea mentioned in this article are intended to be enjoyed as an occasional cup of tea now and then.  Anyone intending to consume more than an occasional cup for pleasure should do more research about each individual herb and talk to their medical practitioner. This is particularly true for young children, pregnant women, anyone on medication or anyone with a chronic disease.

I would love to hear your experience with brewing your own herbal iced tea.  Do you have a favorite flavor? Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram at #getgettys or Facebook @GettyStewart.HomeEconomist.

Getty Stewart is an engaging speaker and writer providing tasty recipes, time-saving tips, and helpful kitchen ideas to make home cooking easy and enjoyable. She is a Professional Home Economist, author of Manitoba’s best-selling Prairie Fruit Cookbook, Founder of Fruit Share, mom and veggie gardener.

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