Cool off with this refreshing strawberry basil iced tea made with juicy strawberries and fresh basil. It’s the perfect summer drink to sip on the back porch or serve at your next backyard barbecue.
Basil is one of my favorite herbs to grow in the summer garden and every year, I always plant too much of it!
Luckily, it’s such a versatile herb. I use it in everything from pesto to homemade herb salt, and even in cut flower arrangements.
It also makes a delicious tea.
Strawberry basil iced tea is one of our favorite summer drinks. Nothing signals the beginning of summer like a cold glass of this tea, dropping beads of condensation on the arm of my Adirondack chair out on the patio!
June happens to be the month where the strawberries in my garden are just wrapping up for the season while basil is just hitting its stride.
I love when seasonal ingredients overlap like this. It creates the most delicious combinations!
This strawberry basil iced tea brings it all together: sun-ripened strawberries, fragrant sweet basil and bold black tea. The combo makes a drink thats fruity, herbal, and so refreshing on a hot day.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
I love this recipe because it’s:
- Made with seasonal ingredients (fresh strawberries and basil)
- A good way to use up extra basil
- Easy to make in a big batch to enjoy all week
- Perfect for making ahead for parties or summer barbecues
Ready to try it? Here’s my step-by-step recipe for strawberry basil iced tea.
Equipment and Ingredients
To make this tea, gather these kitchen tools:
- a small saucepan to heat water and step the tea
- a fine mesh strainer to filter out tea and strawberries
- a large glass bowl or liquid measuring cup for mixing.
You’ll also need these ingredients:
- 2 cups of fresh or frozen strawberries – try to get the ripest, reddest ones you can for best flavor
- about 2 packed cups of fresh basil – no need to remove the leaves from the stems
- 8 black tea bags
- sugar
- water
How to Make Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Once it’s boiling, remove from heat. Add tea bags and basil to the hot water. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes to infuse the basil and tea.
While the tea steeps, remove strawberry stems and leaves. Cut the strawberries into chunks and place in a glass bowl or large liquid measuring cup.
Cover the strawberries with sugar and allow to macerate. The sugar will pull the juices out of the strawberries and create a syrup.
Then give the strawberries a good mash. This will pull out more of that sweet strawberry flavor.
Once the tea is done steeping, remove and discard the tea bags and basil. Pour the warm tea over the mashed strawberries and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Strain out the strawberries, pressing gently to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids. Transfer the tea into a pitcher with ice.
Top off with 5 cups of cold water and stir to combine.
Serve over ice or chill in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Garnish with sliced strawberries and sprigs of basil.
Other Recipes To Try This Summer
FAQs for Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Absolutely! Thaw the strawberries first. Frozen strawberries will release juice even more quickly than fresh berries.
Do I have to strain this tea?
Straining will give you a smooth texture, but if you like having a bit of pulp, you can skip it.
Can I use green tea instead of black tea?
Yes, green tea or even white tea works fine. Steep according to package directions.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Definitely! Skip adding ice to the pitcher and just store the prepared strawberry basil tea in the refrigerator for up to a week. Add ice and garnishes when serving.
Can I make this sugar-free?
Use your favorite sugar-free sweetener instead of sugar to make this drink sugar-free. Puree the strawberries with the sugar-free sweetener to help with the maceration.
How long can I store this tea?
Keep it in the refrigerator without added garnishes for up to a week. Stir before pouring, as it may settle a bit.
Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Equipment
- small saucepan
- large liquid measuring cup
- fine-mesh strainer
- pitcher
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries hulled and chopped
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 cups hot water
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups basil packed
- 8 black tea bags
- 5 cups cold water
Instructions
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Once boiling, remove from heat. Add tea bags and basil to the hot water. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes.
- While the tea steeps, remove strawberry stems and leaves. Cut the strawberries into chunks and place in a glass bowl or large liquid measuring cup.
- Cover the strawberries with sugar and allow to macerate. Mash the strawberries with a fork or potato masher.
- After 30 minutes, remove and discard the tea bags and basil. Pour the warm tea into the glass bowl with the macerated strawberries and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Strain out the strawberries, pressing gently to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids.
- Transfer the tea into a pitcher with ice. Top off with 5 cups of cold water and stir to combine.
- Serve over ice or chill in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.