Warm weather means cool down drinks. This easy iced tea is especially refreshing! It’s great for an after school pick me up, picnic or just because. And with a fancy drink enthusiast for a daughter, I have been making her this iced tea for all of the above or no reason at all.

I make it straight in a 1Litre canning jar. It’s easy and works perfectly. Plus slapping a lid on makes it completely portable or ready for the fridge. Now she will polish off a jar herself, so I often make several jars at once assembly line style, to share on a picnic or with others.

Types of Tea

Any type of tea works for this. I like fruit or berry flavoured herbal teas the best. Tetley red berry is especially nice. So is strawberry. My daughter’s current favourite is a herbal lemon honey tea. Green tea (or fruit flavoured green tea) and black teas work as well for the base. Peach has been calling my name recently. It’s really just a matter of preference!

It’s actually a really great way to use up your least favourite tea flavours or random tea bags in the cupboard.

Add the Ice to the Hot Tea

By adding the ice straight to the hot tea, it melts some of the ice and makes the ice tea lemonade. The rest cools it down and melts more slowly.

Iced Tea Ingredients

Start with a 1 Litre canning jar (or similar sized jug)
1 Tea Bag (herbal fruit flavour of choice)
3/4 Cup Boiling Water
1 1/2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar (or to taste)
Half a Lemon, freshly squeezed
Sprig of fresh mint
Approximately 3-5 Cups of Ice

Iced Tea Directions

Place a tea bag in the bottom of the jar.
Cover with 3/4 a cup boiling water (about 1″-2″ of water) and allow to steep at least a minute.
Stir in a 1 1/2 Tablespoons Sugar (it’s important to do this while the water is still hot enough to dissolve the sugar).
Allow the tea to continue to steep for another 3 + minutes.
Squeeze in half a lemon. Stir.
Leave the tea bag in for as long as you want for a more concentrated flavour, or until you are ready for the next step.
Remove the teabag and add some fresh mint (optional).
Fill the remainder of the jar with ice.
Put the lid on and shake (or stir with a spoon) to cool the tea down.
Serve. Or put in the fridge or picnic basket. The ice will keep it cool for several hours.

Need more ways to cool off? Check out my Copycat Orange Julius