Name: Raspberry Iced Tea
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups water; 6 black tea bags (I used Lipton); 1 cup water; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup fresh raspberries

Sweet, refreshing Raspberry Iced Tea… made with just 4 simple ingredients and perfect for summer!

When I think of summer, there are two drinks that come to mind: lemonade and iced tea. They’re the quintessential drinks of summer… and they go so well together, they make a whole new drink! (Arnold Palmer, anyone?)

Growing up, we were more the lemonade type of family. My mom would make a big pitcher of it on hot summer days and we’d happily drink our way through it. I mean… who doesn’t love a refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot sunny day?

These days, I still love my lemonade… but I have to admit that iced tea has grown on me. There’s something more interesting and complex about its flavor… and when you sweeten it… even better!

There’s no denying that Raspberry Iced Tea is a summertime favorite, and if you’ve never made it at home, it’s time you do! All you need is 4 ingredients and 30 minutes… and you’re well on your way to your best summer day yet.

what you’ll need for this recipe

Water – I used water in two ways in this recipe. First, for steeping the tea and second, for making the simple syrup. I used filtered water for optimal flavor, but regular tap water works just fine.

Tea bags – I used 6 black tea bags to 4 cups of boiling water. Any brand of tea will work (I used Lipton) and you can feel free to use more for stronger flavor.

Raspberries – 1 cup of fresh raspberries gives this tea its delicious raspberry flavor. You can use frozen berries in a pinch; just be aware that they may not have as much flavor as fresh.

Sugar – 1 cup of sugar, combined with 1 additional cup of water and the fresh raspberries, creates the simple syrup for this recipe. I used regular granulated sugar.

how to make raspberry iced tea

Steep the tea. Start by boiling 4 cups of water. Add 6 tea bags and let stand to steep for 20 minutes.

Make the simple syrup. While the tea is steeping, make the simple syrup. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Then add 1 cup of raspberries and remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes. Mash the raspberries in the sugar water using a potato masher or fork, then pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer.

Combine and chill. Combine the tea with the strained simple syrup and refrigerate to chill completely.

Enjoy! Enjoy over ice, garnished with fresh raspberries, lemon slices, herbs, or any of your favorites.

Recipe Variations

Use any flavor of tea bags
Make it stronger by adding more tea and/or steeping longer
Use blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries instead of raspberries (or use a combination)
Use 1/2 cup of sugar in the simple syrup to make it less sweet
Substitute honey for the sugar in the simple syrup
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for an extra refreshing twist

what type of tea to use in iced tea

Iced Tea’s signature taste most often comes from black tea, and most black tea bags that are sold for iced tea (including Lipton) are orange pekoe tea. However, if you’re looking to mix things up, white tea, green tea, and oolong tea also work well iced.

more refreshing drink recipes you’ll love

Strawberry Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
Sparkling Mint Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
Jalapeño Pineapple Mocktail (non-alcoholic)
Lemon Raspberry Sangria
Chambord Kir Royale
Raspberry Basil Champagne Spritzers