23 Iced Tea Recipes That Taste Like Summer

Melissa Gaman

By Melissa Gaman

Updated on Sep. 05, 2025

From herb and fruit-infused brews to classic sweetened black tea, these iced tea recipes offer refreshing drink ideas to help you stay cool all summer.

There’s nothing quite like a glass of iced tea on a warm day to cool you down and perk you up. But if you think all iced tea tastes the same, these iced tea recipes prove otherwise. Whether you start with green tea, herbal tea, black tea or just fresh herbs, this collection has a drink for every mood and time of day. From classic sweet tea to citrusy brews and infused glasses with berries, each sip offers cool refreshment.

These iced teas range from tart and fruity, flavored with rhubarb, raspberries and lemonade, to mild and floral with steeped basil, mint or a touch of orange blossom water. They fit right in with other fruity drinks for summer sipping, afternoon gatherings or slow days. Easy homemade iced teas can double as mocktail recipes, or you can add a splash of your favorite spirit for a spiked tea.

Some of these summer iced tea recipes steep quickly, when you want a glass right away, while others slowly brew over time, so a big pitcher is waiting for you the next day. Iced tea is just as refreshing as the weather shifts into autumn and winter. Give it a cozy makeover by including spices, pear or apple or trade fresh berries for frozen cranberries or cranberry juice. No matter what you brew, these easy homemade iced teas refresh long after the first pour.

1/23

Pineapple Iced Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:6
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: We have a large family, so we go through beverages quickly at our house. This thirst-quenching tea is simple to mix together and has a sparkling citrus flavor we all enjoy. —K. Kitell, Lenexa, Kansas
2/23

Bella Basil Raspberry Tea

Contest Winner
Total Time:45 min
Servings:6
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Beautiful basil and fresh raspberries lend bright color and refreshing flavor to this grown-up iced tea. You’ll love the fun fizz and make-ahead convenience for parties. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington
3/23

Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:14 (about 2-1/2 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Sweet tea and cherry limeade are two of my favorite summer libations. So I decided to combine them—the result is wonderful. —Renee Page, Rochelle, Illinois
4/23

Hibiscus Iced Tea

Total Time:10 min
Servings:1
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This calorie- and caffeine-free tea has a delightful rosy color. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
5/23

Smooth Sweet Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:7
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste of Home Community Member
6/23

Honey-Citrus Iced Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:8 (2 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: A frozen orange or lemon slice in the glass looks pretty and helps keep this refreshing punch nice and cold. Using honey instead of sugar adds a sweet touch. —Sheila Bradshaw, Columbus, Ohio
7/23

Iced Honeydew Mint Tea

Total Time:20 min
Servings:10 (2-1/2 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I grow mint in the garden on my balcony. For this tea, I blend two of my favorite beverages—Moroccan mint tea and honeydew agua fresca. —Sarah Batt Throne, El Cerrito, California
8/23

Lemony Pineapple Iced Tea

Total Time:30 min
Servings:20
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I like to garnish this iced tea with some of our sweet Hawaiian pineapple. —Beverly Toomey, Honolulu, Hawaii
9/23

Refreshing Raspberry Iced Tea

Total Time:20 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe makes two gallons, so it’s a sensible thirst-quenching choice for a springtime party when you have a medium-size crowd. It freezes well, making it a timesaver for party prep. —Arlana Hendricks Manchester, Tennessee
10/23

Sweet Tea Concentrate

Total Time:30 min
Servings:20 (5 cups concentrate)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Sweet iced tea is a southern classic, and this is a fabulous recipe for tea lovers or for a party. The concentrate will make 20 servings. —Natalie Bremson, Plantation, Florida
11/23

Arnold Palmer

Total Time:15 min
Servings:12 (3 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I have always loved iced tea with lemon, and this delightful thirst quencher just takes it one step further. Lemonade gives the drink a nice color too. I dress up each glass with a slice of lemon on the rim. —Gail Buss, New Bern, North Carolina
12/23

Agua de Jamaica

Total Time:15 min
Servings:6
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This agua de Jamaica is an iced tea made from hibiscus, which is tart and deep red like cranberry juice. Add rum if you like. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
13/23

Raspberry Iced Tea

Total Time:20 min
Servings:about 2 quarts
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: One sip and you'll likely agree that this is the best flavored tea you've ever tasted. —Chris Wilson, Sellersville, Pennsylvania
14/23

Rhubarb Mint Tea

Total Time:1 hour
Servings:12
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: A bumper crop of rhubarb and mint from my garden inspired me to create this thirst-quenching pick-me-up. Raspberries deepen the tea's vibrant red color, making the drinks a pretty addition to your table. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington
15/23

Iced Raspberry Tea

Total Time:10 min
Servings:16 (4 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Frozen raspberries lend fruity flavor and lovely color to this pretty iced tea that's good throughout the year. The recipe calls for just a few common ingredients and offers make-ahead convenience. —Lois McGrady, Hillsville, Virginia
16/23

Summertime Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:18
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: You can’t have a summer gathering around here without this sweet tea to cool you down. It’s wonderful for sipping while basking by the pool. —Angela Lively, Baxter, Tennessee
17/23

Apricot Lemonade Iced Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:12
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Every special occasion deserves a refreshing beverage (and a lovely punch bowl). Our tea has a tangy flavor from lemonade, apricot nectar and mint. —Kay Chon, Sherwood, Arkansas
18/23

Sweet Raspberry Tea

Total Time:25 min
Servings:15 (3-3/4 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: You need only a handful of ingredients to stir together this refreshing spring sipper. Its brilliant color and smile-fetching flavor will make a popular thirst quencher as the weather turns warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
19/23

Minty Tea Punch

Total Time:15 min
Servings:12 (2-1/4 quarts)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Forget sugary (and boring) sodas for your next potluck and treat your family and friends to a refreshing homemade punch. —Crystal Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
20/23

Iced Melon Moroccan Mint Tea

Total Time:20 min
Servings:5
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I grow mint on my balcony, and this refreshing beverage is a wonderful way to use it. It combines two of my favorite drinks—Moroccan Mint Tea and Honeydew Agua Fresca. For extra flair, add some ginger ale. —Sarah Batt Throne, El Cerrito, California
21/23

Orange Blossom Mint Refresher

Total Time:6 hours 10 min
Servings:20
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I came up with this recipe because I'm not a fan of regular iced tea. This version has the perfect combination of freshness and sweetness, and the orange blossom water gives the tea a distinctive flavor. People always request the recipe. —Juliana Gauss, Centennial, Colorado
22/23

Lemon Lime Almond Tea

Total Time:10 min
Servings:7
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I got this delicious tea recipe from a friend and make it about twice a week. It's such a refreshing drink. —Tammy Griffin, Frankston, Texas
23/23

Sweet Citrus Iced Tea

Total Time:15 min
Servings:1 gallon
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My family has been making iced tea this way ever since I was a child. When I recently prepared it for a church function, everyone liked it so much that they asked for the recipe. — Diane C Kirkpatrick, Terre Hill, Pennsylvania

Iced Tea Recipes FAQ

What’s the best way to brew iced tea?

You can make iced tea at home using three different methods depending on your time and the flavor and clarity you’re after. Cold brewing delivers a smooth, clean taste with slight bitterness, but it needs 12 to 24 hours to extract flavor. Sun tea is similar but uses the sun to speed up the steeping process to around six hours. If you’re short on time, steep tea bags in hot, freshly boiled water for no more than five minutes, remove them and cool the tea over ice to lock in flavor.

How do I make fruit-flavored iced tea?

There are several ways to make fruit-flavored iced tea, including steeping black tea with fresh fruit, sweetening tea with fruit juice or starting with herbal fruit teas instead of black tea. Adding juice or nectar to brewed tea is a subtle way to infuse fruit and a touch of sweetness, like this honey-pear iced tea recipe. If you want something bolder, try this blueberry iced tea, with a deep berry flavor from simmering the fruit with sugar and water in a slow cooker before adding tea.

Are there sugar-free iced tea recipes I can try?

Many iced tea recipes can be sugar-free by skipping sweeteners and enjoying the tea plain or flavoring it with fresh mint or lemon. Herbal teas like hibiscus, rooibos or fruit-forward green teas often have bright, tangy flavors that stand on their own. You can also add a touch of sweetness with sugar alternatives, like stevia or monk fruit.