Description
A refreshing homemade blueberry iced tea that combines the earthy flavor of cold brewed tea with a sweet, vibrant blueberry syrup. Perfect for hot summer days, gatherings, or anytime you need a delicious, cooling beverage.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Tea
- 6 – 8 cups water (use 6 cups for a 2 quart pitcher, 8 cups for a 2.5 quart pitcher)
- 3 – 4 family size cold brew tea bags (use 4 for a stronger tea flavor)
- For the Blueberry Syrup
- 2 cups fresh blueberries, washed
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup granulated or cane sugar
- Juice from ½ lemon
Instructions
- Prepare the Blueberry Syrup
- Add the washed blueberries, 2 cups of water, sugar, and freshly squeezed lemon juice to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar and prevent sticking.
- Simmer the Syrup
- Once the mixture reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes. During this time, the blueberries will burst, releasing their flavor and color into the syrup.
- Strain and Cool
- Remove the blueberry syrup from the heat. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup, pressing gently on the solids to extract all the liquid. Refrigerate the syrup while steeping the tea. Discard the blueberry pulp.
- Steep the Tea
- Fill a glass pitcher with 6 to 8 cups of cold water and add the cold brew tea bags. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes. Cold brew tea bags are specially designed to infuse in cold water, eliminating the need to cool down hot tea.
- Combine and Mix
- Add the slightly cooled blueberry syrup to the steeped tea and stir until well combined. The syrup will add a beautiful purple hue and sweet blueberry flavor to the tea.
- Serve
- Pour the Blueberry Iced Tea into glasses filled with ice and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh blueberries or lemon slices if desired.
Notes
- For a less sweet version, reduce the sugar to ¾ cup.
- You can substitute frozen blueberries if fresh ones aren’t available.
- For a sparkling version, replace half the water with club soda or sparkling water.
- The blueberry syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- For an adult version, add a splash of vodka or gin.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 98
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg