Beat the Heat With These 5 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes

It’s summertime, which means that temperatures are soaring and that morning cup of piping hot coffee might be getting a little hard to swallow. If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat and stay refreshed on your morning commute, why not try these iced tea recipes instead? With iced varieties making up more than 80% of tea consumed in the U.S., it’s no wonder people have started to get a little creative with their recipes. No caffeine? No problem. Each of these recipes can be easily adapted between black tea, green, oolong, and herbal tea, depending on your preference and tolerance.

Cold Brew Peach

The key to mastering this summer drink from Choosing Chia is to plan ahead. Utilizing the cold brew method of steeping bags in cold water, this peachy treat is perfect for bringing the spirit of a picnic to dreary mornings at work. It takes the tart sweetness of peaches, citrusy orange peel and a hint of mint, along with the complexity of Earl Grey. If you bring this to your next cookout, you’ll have people begging for more.

Vanilla Strawberry Rooibos

This lightly sweet concoction is so smooth and delicious, it would pair well with any fruity, summery dessert. The strawberries and rooibos combine to make a luscious red color reminiscent of backyard barbecues and popsicles. Balanced with seeds from a vanilla pod and just a touch of honey, this well-rounded drink is perfect for early morning pick-me-ups. Get the recipe from Use Your Noodles

Instant Pot Sweet Tea

These days, pressure cooker recipes are all the rage, so it was only a matter of time before we found a way to make this summer staple in no time at all. Pressure cooker alternatives offer the benefit of a strong, smooth taste without any of the troublesome bitterness that can sometimes come when bags are left too long on the stove. Laura at The Awe Filled Homemaker offers up a sweet, simple recipe that cuts down the guesswork (and the time!) of a perfect batch of a sweet summer classic.

Rose-Infused

If you’re looking to impress your friends at the next picnic, or if you’re just looking for a chance to try something new, why not give this rose-scented recipe a shot? Floral elements in food and drinks can be a risky venture (no one wants to drink grandma’s potpourri jar), but when done correctly, floral drinks can offer a touch of subtle complexity that’s hard to beat. This recipe from The Miami Rose marries green tea and homemade rose water for a drink that looks like something out of a fairytale. This recipe is a must for drink connoisseurs looking for their next Instagrammable glass.

Ginger Hibiscus

Even when it’s hot out, sometimes there’s nothing better than the warmth of a little spice. When paired with the light tartness of the dried hibiscus leaves (called flor de Jamaica in Latin American grocery stores), the fresh ginger in this recipe makes for a drink that will cool you down and warm you up in one fell swoop. Check out the recipe on Saveur.

Do you have a favorite refreshing iced tea recipe? Let us know!