Description
This refreshing Blueberry Iced Tea is a perfect homemade beverage made with fresh blueberries and cold brew tea bags. The natural sweetness of the blueberry syrup combined with the rich tea flavor makes this drink far superior to any store-bought iced tea. Ideal for warm days, it’s easy to prepare and beautifully garnished with fresh blueberries.
Ingredients
Tea
- 6 – 8 cups water (use 6 cups for a 2 quart pitcher, 8 cups for a 2.5 quart pitcher)
- 3 – 4 cold brew tea bags (family size, Luzianne; use 4 for a stronger tea flavor)
Blueberry Syrup
- 2 cups fresh blueberries, washed
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup granulated or cane sugar
- ½ lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Prepare Blueberry Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the washed blueberries, 2 cups water, sugar, and fresh lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Simmer Syrup: Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the blueberries to break down.
- Strain Syrup: Remove the syrup from heat. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the blueberry mixture into a measuring cup, discarding the pulp. Refrigerate the syrup while preparing the tea.
- Steep Tea: Fill a glass pitcher with 6 to 8 cups of cold water and add the cold brew tea bags. Let the tea steep for 5 minutes to achieve the desired strength.
- Combine Syrup and Tea: Add the slightly cooled blueberry syrup to the steeped tea in the pitcher and stir well to combine the flavors evenly.
- Serve: Pour the Blueberry Iced Tea into glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish with fresh blueberries if desired and serve immediately for a refreshing experience.
Notes
- Store the iced tea in a glass pitcher refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- After 3 days, the tea may develop a bitter taste, so it’s best consumed fresh.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of sugar in the blueberry syrup to your preference.
- Use family size Luzianne cold brew tea bags for best flavor, but other black tea bags can be substituted.
- For a stronger tea flavor, use 4 tea bags instead of 3.
- Make sure to strain the blueberry syrup well to avoid pulp in the finished drink.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
