Peach Iced Tea with Fresh Mint and Lemon Recipe
This refreshing Peach Iced Tea combines the natural sweetness of ripe peaches with the robust flavor of black tea, lightly sweetened with honey and infused with fresh lemon and mint. Perfectly chilled and garnished, it’s a delightful beverage for warm weather or any time you crave a fruity, invigorating tea.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Peach Syrup
- 2 medium ripe peaches, finely diced
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup filtered water
Tea
- 8 black tea bags
- 4 cups filtered water (for steeping tea)
Additional Ingredients
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1 medium ripe peach, sliced into thin wedges
- 1 large lemon, sliced into rounds
- 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Make the peach syrup: Finely dice 2 of the peaches and place them in a small saucepan along with honey and 1 cup of filtered water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the honey and crushing the peaches against the pot sides. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes to infuse the syrup with peach flavor and vibrant color. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove solids.
- Make the tea: In a tea kettle or small saucepan, bring 4 cups of filtered water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the 8 black tea bags. Cover and steep for 8 minutes until the water turns a dark amber color. Discard the tea bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- Mix and chill: In a large pitcher, combine the strained peach syrup and cooled tea. Add the remaining 3 cups of filtered water. Slice the remaining peach into thin wedges. Reserve a few lemon rounds and mint sprigs for garnish, then add the peach slices, remaining lemon, and mint leaves to the pitcher. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 4 hours or overnight to fully develop the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled peach iced tea over the top. Garnish each glass with reserved lemon rounds and fresh mint leaves for a vibrant and refreshing presentation. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- For a less sweet tea, adjust the amount of honey according to taste.
- Use ripe, juicy peaches for the best flavor; freestone peaches are ideal for easy slicing.
- If fresh peaches are not in season, frozen diced peaches can be substituted for the syrup.
- Steeping the tea for exactly 8 minutes ensures a robust flavor without bitterness.
- Leftover tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days for optimal freshness.
