Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (2024)

This Healthy Homemade Iced Tea recipe is a refreshing drink for summer! 3 ingredients, NO refined sugar or artificial sweeteners – Under 50 calories per serving!

Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (1)
Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (2)

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Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (3)

Homemade Iced Tea Recipe

I don’t know about you all, but I am absolutely THRILLED that we’re well into spring and summer is just around the corner. There’s almost nothing better than sitting outside on a warm day with a tall glass of something refreshing, and this Healthy Homemade Iced Tea is my first choice for a delicious summer drink. If you’re a fan of iced tea, you’re going to LOVE this recipe!

Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (4)

Sugar Free Iced tea

Conventional Iced Tea can be so high in calories and packed with unnecessary sugar and if you’re buying powdered iced tea from the grocery store you’ll know exactly what I mean. Making your own homemade iced tea is a great way to reduce your sugar intake and this Healthy Homemade Iced Tea contains no refined sugar at all, and no artificial sweeteners.

Using honey as a sweetener for summer drinks is a great way to add flavour with a hint of sweetness, without making them overly sugary. Honey is the best ingredient in this healthy iced tea recipe!

(For more summer drinks using honey as a sweetener, try my Healthy 3-Ingredient Lemonade!)

If you prefer a different natural sweetener, maple syrup and agave nectar also work well in this recipe.

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Kitchen Items You’ll Need to Make this Healthy Homemade Iced tea Recipe

Mason jars are my favourite kitchen tool to have on hand for serving recipes like this Healthy Homemade Iced Tea. They’re so cute, they’re the perfect size for your favourite drinks, and they’re dishwasher-safe. Get my favourite go-to Mason jars HERE (affiliate link).

You’ll also need a pitcher that’s heat-safe (you could also use a heat-safe bowl, a pot, or a large pyrex liquid measuring cup).

Ingredients for Healthy Homemade Iced Tea Recipe

  • Black or Orange Pekoe Tea (any brand will do – Lipton, Red Rose, etc.)
  • Fresh lemons
  • Ice
  • Honey, or your favourite vegan liquid sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar (OR stevia, to make it low carb)
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How to Make Healthy Homemade Iced Tea Recipe

Time needed:2 hours and 10 minutes

Follow these tips for the BEST homemade iced tea.

  1. Brew the tea first.

    Add the tea bags to hot water in a pot or heat-safe pitcher.

  2. Sweeten the tea while it’s hot.

    Add the honey and stir until it dissolves.

  3. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

    Let the tea sit in the fridge to chill.

  4. Serve over ice.

    Pour the iced tea into your favourite glasses over ice with a lemon slice.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the healthiest kind of iced tea?

The healthiest kind of iced tea is homemade iced tea made without refined sugar.

Can iced tea be healthy?

Yes, iced tea can be a healthy drink if you make it yourself at home, either unsweetened or with a sweetener that’s refined sugar-free like honey or maple syrup.

Can you make iced tea from tea bags?

Yes, add the tea bags to hot water to brew the tea, dissolve the honey, then chill until ready to serve.

Is homemade iced tea good for you?

Homemade iced tea can be good for you, especially if it contains a limited amount of sugar or other sweetener.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! Simply store this iced tea in the fridge and serve over ice within 4-5 days.

Looking for more refreshing drinks for summer? TRY MY DAIRY-FREE MOCHA CARAMEL FRAPPUCCINO, OR THISSPARKLING PEACH MANGO REFRESHER!

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We hope you love this homemade iced tea recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite summer drink? We’d love to know!

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Looking for more delicious recipes like this? You’ll love these:

  • Healthy Grapefruit Soda
  • Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte
  • Iced Vanilla Latte
  • Peach Tea
  • Iced Caramel Latte
  • Easy Fruity Party Punch
  • Homemade Elderflower Syrup
  • Healthy Homemade Frappuccino

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Looking for more?

EASY HEALTHY SUMMER ENTERTAINING RECIPES AND COOKING & BAKING TIPS

Get my easy healthy summer entertaining e-cookbook!

Click here to learn more!

Healthy Iced Tea Recipe Video

Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find many more deliciously simple recipe videos on ourYouTube channel!

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Healthy Iced Tea

This Healthy Iced Tea is a refreshing drink for summer! Only 3 ingredients, NO refined sugar, NO artificial sweeteners – under 50 calories!

Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (11)

5 from 9 votes

Print

By Chrissie

Yield 6 servings

Prep 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time 2 hours hrs

Total 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Recipe: Ingredients

  • 8 cups boiling water
  • 3 bags black tea use decaffeinated black tea if desired
  • 1/4 cup liquid honey
  • 4-6 lemon slices
  • 4 cups ice cubes

Recipe: Instructions

  • Add the boiling water to a heat-safe jug or pitcher and drop in the tea bags. You could also use a pot if you don't have a large enough pitcher or jug.

  • Let steep for about 7 minutes.

  • Add the honey and lemon slices, and stir well until the honey dissolves.

  • Place the jug in the fridge for about 2 hours (or overnight). You can remove the tea bags after 1 hour if you wish, but leaving them in creates a stronger, more concentrated iced tea.

  • Before serving remove the tea bags and add the ice. Stir well and serve.

Recipe: Notes

If you prefer a weaker iced tea, feel free to remove the tea bags earlier.

For a stronger tea, leave the tea bags in the water in the fridge overnight and some more water (to taste) before serving. Leaving your tea bags in for long periods of time can sometimes leave the tea with a slightly bitter taste, but using high-quality tea can lessen this.

Feel free to substitute agave or maple syrup for the honey in this recipe, however honey provides a lot of flavour to this recipe so it’s the best choice.

Course: Drink, Drinks, picnic

Cuisine: American, Canadian, Healthy, Low Fat, North American, Summer

Keywords: Healthy Homemade Iced Tea, Healthy Iced Tea, Sugar Free Iced Tea

Recipe: Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Iced Tea

Amount Per Serving (2 cups)

Calories 43

% Daily Value*

Sodium 24mg1%

Potassium 7mg0%

Carbohydrates 12g4%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 1g2%

Calcium 14mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Healthy Homemade Iced Tea (2024)

FAQs

Is homemade iced tea healthier? ›

Three fast reasons to brew your own iced tea, rather than buy bottled: It's cheaper. You'll likely add much less sugar. And it's healthier. Bottled teas contain far fewer polyphenols than fresh-brewed tea, studies show.

What is the healthiest iced tea drink? ›

12 Healthiest Iced Teas on Grocery Shelves—and 4 To Avoid
  • Photos: The brands. ...
  • pure leaf green tea.
  • Milo's Unsweet Tea.
  • GT's.
  • Just Ice Tea Unsweetened Original Black Tea.
  • Liquid Death Dead Billionaire (Armless Palmer)
  • Rishi Dandelion Ginger Sparkling Botanical Tea.
  • Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate: Unsweetened Traditional.
3 days ago

What is a healthy way to sweeten iced tea? ›

Low Carb, Low Calorie & Low Glycemic Index Sweeteners

Coconut sugar (a low-glycemic sugar), Xylitol (made from vegetable fibers) and Stevia (from a natural leaf) are all considered to be lower in calories and carbohydrates.

What is the ratio of tea bags to water for iced tea? ›

Cold-Brewed: Combine 8 cups cold water and 6 tablespoons loose tea or 10 tea bags in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 36 hours, until it's the strength you like.

Is it OK to drink unsweetened iced tea everyday? ›

Conclusion. By incorporating unsweetened iced tea into your daily routine, you can enjoy the numerous health benefits it offers, such as improved heart health, lower blood pressure, weight management, and enhanced cognitive function.

Does homemade iced tea count as water intake? ›

The good news is that tea – and coffee – do count towards your daily water intake. Both are made with water, so it stands to reason. But there are often question marks over tea and coffee's diuretic nature, the caffeine contained in both, and whether or not they will even dehydrate you.

What is the healthiest tea to drink all day? ›

Green tea will get you “the most bang for your buck” when it comes to nutritional benefits, Crumble Smith said. It has better antioxidant properties than black tea because it contains more polyphenols. Green tea contains several types of catechins, a group of flavonoid compounds.

Is there a difference between Ice Tea and iced tea? ›

Do you know the difference between ICED tea and ICE tea? Iced tea refers to hot tea that has been poured over ice. Ice tea is tea that has either been brewed cold or has been cooled down before serving.

What is the world's best iced tea? ›

Tejava's never sweetened, boldly smooth taste was selected as the best in the straight black tea category. This is the sixth time Tejava has been awarded a gold medal from this organization. If you haven't already tried it, we invite you to taste what the experts already know is the world's best iced tea.

What does Mcdonald's use to sweeten their iced tea? ›

Ingredients: Medium Invert Sugar, Water.

How can I make my tea sweet without sugar? ›

How to Naturally Sweeten Your Tea
  1. Natural Honey. Use Natural Honey to Naturally Sweeten Tea. ...
  2. Fresh Fruit. Fresh Fruit Sweetens Tea & Adds Flavor. ...
  3. Stevia. Switch Out Your Sugar with Stevia. ...
  4. Coconut Sugar. Coconut Sugar Can Prevent Low Blood Sugar. ...
  5. Pure Maple Syrup. Pancakes and Tea Go Great with Maple Syrup.
Jul 6, 2022

What is the healthiest alternative to sugar? ›

With those basics in mind, here are some natural sweeteners you can consider as substitutes for conventional sugar.
  • Sugar Alcohols: Erythritol and Xylitol. Erythritol and xylitol are low calorie sweeteners. ...
  • Stevia. Stevia is a plant leaf extract. ...
  • Agave. ...
  • Coconut Sugar. ...
  • Date Sugar. ...
  • Monk Fruit. ...
  • Fruit Puree. ...
  • Honey.
Mar 3, 2023

Do you double the tea bags for iced tea? ›

Steep 4-6 tea bags/sachets or 3-6 tablespoons of loose leaf tea in the water for 3-5 minutes. This might sound like too much tea, but doubling the amount you normally use will make your tea twice as strong. This ensures that the dilution from melting ice cubes won't make your tea taste watery.

How many tea bags for 4 cups of iced tea? ›

For 1 quart (32 fluid ounces or 4 cups): Bring 2 cups of cold water to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over 1 Luzianne Family Size Iced Tea bag. Steep 3-5 minutes, remove tea bag and sweeten to taste.

How long does iced tea last in the fridge? ›

Cold-brewed iced tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours before it starts to lose its flavor and freshness. However, it is recommended to consume it within 24 hours for best taste. Keep the tea in a covered container and consume it as soon as possible to avoid any potential bacterial growth.

Is homemade tea good for you? ›

Of course, many teas are healthy. Ginger tea helps with nausea and digestion. Herbal teas help with inflammation, clear airwaves, and relieve asthma and allergy symptoms. Peppermint tea has menthol and is helpful when you have a cold with congestion.

Is it better to make your own tea? ›

Herbal tea blends are nutritious and soothing, but store-bought herbal teas are often either expensive or poor-quality and full of artificial flavors and additives. When you make your own tea at home you can save money, experiment with flavors, and ensure superior quality and affordability.

Which is healthier cold or hot brewed tea? ›

Cold brewing can give you a less bitter teacup, more vitamins and antioxidants, and a smoother taste. So, cold brewing is the way to go if you're looking for a healthier way to brew your tea.

Is iced tea as beneficial as water? ›

Contrary to popular belief, iced tea can be just as hydrating as water. While it contains caffeine, which has mild diuretic properties, the water content in iced tea more than makes up for any minimal fluid loss.

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