21 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes for Spring
Because plain water is fine, but it’s not exactly thrilling — and spring deserves better.
Spring hits and suddenly everything feels possible. The windows are open, the farmers market is back, and there’s this collective urge to swap out the heavy stuff — the thick stews, the cocoa, the drinks that felt cozy in January but now feel like wearing a wool sweater in April. Iced tea is the seasonal upgrade nobody talks about enough. It’s endlessly riffable, costs almost nothing to make at home, and honestly? A well-made glass of iced tea, fragrant with fresh herbs or fruit, can stop a conversation mid-sentence.
I got mildly obsessed with iced tea a few springs back when I realized I was spending an embarrassing amount on bottled drinks at the grocery store. The fix was simple: learn to brew cold. What followed was a deep, slightly chaotic rabbit hole of flavor combinations — hibiscus and blood orange, green tea and lemongrass, lavender and honey — and I have zero regrets. These 21 recipes are the survivors of that experimentation. They range from five-minute cold brews to layered drinks that look like you spent the whole afternoon on them (you didn’t).
Whether you’re a classic black tea loyalist, an herbal-curious newcomer, or someone who just wants a Pinterest-worthy glass of something pink and beautiful, there’s a recipe here that will become your spring ritual. Let’s get into it.
Overhead shot of a wooden farmhouse table scattered with five tall glass pitchers of iced tea in gradient jewel tones — deep ruby hibiscus, pale gold chamomile, blush pink peach, emerald green mint, and cloudy lemon. Fresh sprigs of mint, sliced citrus, and edible flowers are loosely arranged between the pitchers. Soft natural window light from the left casts gentle shadows. Linen napkins in sage and cream are folded casually at the edges. The mood is relaxed, abundant, early spring morning. Shot with a wide-angle lens, slight vignette, film-tone color grade.
Why Homemade Iced Tea is Worth the Ten Extra Minutes
Here’s the thing about store-bought iced tea: the label says “tea” but the ingredient list says “tea-adjacent sugar water with some caramel coloring for effect.” Dramatic? Maybe. But if you’ve ever made a proper cold brew tea at home, you’ll understand why going back feels like a step in the wrong direction. Homemade iced tea takes almost no active effort — most of these recipes are brew-and-wait situations — and the flavor difference is substantial.
From a nutrition standpoint, most teas are genuinely good for you. According to Healthline’s research on green tea, the antioxidants in varieties like green and white tea support everything from metabolism to cognitive function. Herbal options like hibiscus have been studied for their effect on blood pressure. When you brew at home, you control the sweetener and skip the preservatives entirely — which means you can feel slightly virtuous sipping something that tastes like a treat. Not a bad deal.
The cold brew method, specifically, produces a smoother, less bitter cup than hot brewing because the lower temperature extracts different compounds from the leaf. For most of the recipes here, you’ll just combine tea and cold water, refrigerate overnight, and wake up to something magnificent. That’s not a hard sell — that’s just the truth.
Brew a large batch of plain cold brew base on Sunday night — one pitcher of green, one of black — and you’ll have a customizable iced tea foundation ready all week. Add fruit, herbs, or simple syrup to order.
If you’re already into cold drinks at home, you might love exploring 10 must-try cold brew coffee variations for summer alongside your tea rotation — the techniques overlap beautifully, and having both on hand covers every mood.
The Essential Spring Iced Teas: Classic Meets Refreshing
Before we get into the flavor-forward stuff, let’s talk about the foundation recipes. These are the ones you’ll make repeatedly, the ones that are crowd-pleasing enough for a backyard gathering but simple enough for a Tuesday afternoon when you just want something good.
1. Classic Southern Sweet Tea, Lightened Up
Classic Southern Sweet Tea
Brew six black tea bags in two quarts of boiling water for five minutes. Remove the bags, stir in a quarter cup of raw honey while the tea is still warm, then add cold water to reach a full half gallon. Refrigerate until cold. Serve over ice with a lemon wedge and a sprig of fresh mint. The honey gives you that familiar sweetness without the refined sugar hit — same vibe, better ingredients.
Get Full Recipe2. Chamomile Honey Iced Tea
Chamomile Honey Iced Tea
Steep eight chamomile bags in four cups of hot water for seven minutes. Stir in two tablespoons of raw honey, let cool completely, then refrigerate. Serve over ice with a few thin slices of lemon. Chamomile has a natural apple-like sweetness that pairs beautifully with honey, and this is the kind of drink you make when you want something calming but still interesting. Pair this one with our 15 herbal teas that help you sleep better for an evening routine that actually works.
Get Full Recipe3. Lemon Verbena Iced Green Tea
Lemon Verbena Green Tea
Combine four green tea bags and a small handful of fresh lemon verbena leaves in a pitcher with four cups of cold water. Refrigerate for eight to twelve hours. Strain, sweeten lightly with simple syrup if desired, and serve over ice. This one is bright and clean — the verbena adds a citrus note that’s more complex than regular lemon juice, and the cold-brew green tea stays smooth and never bitter.
Get Full Recipe4. Peach Ginger Iced Black Tea
Peach Ginger Iced Black Tea
Steep four Darjeeling or Assam tea bags in three cups of boiling water for four minutes. Remove bags and add four slices of fresh ginger. Let cool. In a blender, blend two ripe peaches until smooth and strain the puree. Combine cooled tea with peach puree, top with cold water to taste, and refrigerate. The ginger gives it a gentle warmth that plays against the sweet peach in a way that’s genuinely addictive.
Get Full RecipeSpeaking of making drinks from scratch at home, if you’ve been meaning to branch out beyond tea, the 15 iced coffee drinks that are better than Starbucks list is exactly what it sounds like — and these 20 iced coffee variations for hot weather will have you set for the entire warm season.
Fruity and Floral Iced Teas That Look as Good as They Taste
Let’s be honest — part of the appeal of a good iced tea in spring is the visual. A pitcher of deep ruby hibiscus tea or a layered sunset drink on your counter feels like a lifestyle statement. IMO, the fact that it also tastes spectacular is just a bonus. These recipes lean into color and fragrance, and they happen to be some of the most shareable drinks you’ll ever make.
5. Hibiscus Raspberry Iced Tea
Hibiscus Raspberry Iced Tea
Steep four tablespoons of dried hibiscus flowers in four cups of just-boiled water for eight minutes. Strain, sweeten with a tablespoon of agave while warm, and cool. In a pitcher, muddle a cup of fresh raspberries lightly, pour the hibiscus tea over them, add cold water to taste, and refrigerate. The color alone — a deep, vivid crimson — makes this the most photographed drink in any gathering. Hibiscus is also notably rich in vitamin C and has been studied for its effect on blood pressure, so you’re basically doing something good for yourself.
Get Full Recipe6. Lavender Lemonade Iced Tea
Lavender Lemonade Iced Tea
Make a lavender simple syrup by simmering equal parts water and sugar with two tablespoons of dried culinary lavender for five minutes. Strain and cool. Brew four cups of lightly steeped white tea, cool completely, and combine with fresh lemon juice and the lavender syrup to taste. Top with cold water. This tastes like a fancy spa, in the best possible way — floral, tart, and surprisingly not overwhelming once the tea balances everything out.
Get Full Recipe7. Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Cold brew four green tea bags and a handful of fresh basil leaves overnight in four cups of cold water. Strain. Blend eight to ten ripe strawberries with a splash of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey, then strain the puree. Combine the green tea and strawberry puree, dilute to your liking, and serve over ice. Fresh basil and strawberry is one of those combinations that sounds risky and tastes inevitable.
Get Full Recipe8. Watermelon Mint Iced Tea
Watermelon Mint Iced Tea
Brew four white tea bags in cold water overnight. Blend two cups of seedless watermelon until smooth and strain. Combine the cold tea with watermelon juice, add a generous handful of muddled fresh mint, and sweeten with a touch of agave if needed. This one is the most summery thing you can make in spring — hydrating, light, and pink enough to make anyone stop and ask what you’re drinking.
Get Full RecipeMake fruit-infused ice cubes by freezing fresh berries or citrus slices into your ice tray. They keep your iced tea cold without diluting the flavor as they melt — actually makes the drink better over time.
9. Mango Green Tea Lemonade
Mango Green Tea Lemonade
Cold brew four green tea bags overnight. Blend one ripe mango (or use thawed frozen mango) until completely smooth. Combine tea, mango puree, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a pitcher, sweeten with honey syrup, and top with cold water. This tastes tropically exotic in the best way and pairs beautifully with spicy food at a spring cookout. The green tea base keeps it light rather than syrupy.
Get Full Recipe10. Rose Hip and Orange Iced Tea
Rose Hip Orange Iced Tea
Steep three tablespoons of dried rose hips in four cups of hot water for ten minutes — they need a bit more time than most teas to release their flavor and color. Strain, sweeten lightly, and cool. Add freshly squeezed orange juice to taste and serve over ice with a thin orange wheel. Rose hip tea is one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C you’ll find, and the citrus here amplifies that tangy brightness into something genuinely special.
Get Full RecipeIf you enjoy these herbal and functional combinations, the roundup of 12 tea recipes to make you feel calm and focused explores that wellness angle more deeply. And for something to sip alongside these spring drinks, these 10 unexpected tea and savory food pairings will change how you think about tea at the table.
Bold and Herbal: The Adventurous Iced Teas
Some of us want something with a bit more going on. The recipes in this section lean into herbs, spices, and unexpected combinations — the kind of drinks that get described as “complex” in a complimentary way. These are great for people who are already comfortable with homemade drinks and want to push into new territory.
11. Thai Iced Tea with Coconut Milk
Thai Iced Tea
Brew six tablespoons of loose-leaf black tea (or strong Thai tea blend) in three cups of boiling water with a teaspoon of ground star anise and a cinnamon stick for five minutes. Strain, sweeten generously with condensed milk or sweetened coconut milk while hot, and cool completely. Pour over ice in a tall glass and float a splash of cold coconut cream over the top. This is indulgent, aromatic, and deeply satisfying — not a “diet drink” situation, and worth every calorie.
Get Full Recipe12. Turmeric Ginger Iced Rooibos
Turmeric Ginger Iced Rooibos
Steep four rooibos bags with four thin slices of fresh ginger and half a teaspoon of ground turmeric in four cups of hot water for eight minutes. Strain, stir in a teaspoon of raw honey, and cool. Serve over ice with a squeeze of lemon — the citrus activates the curcumin in the turmeric, which the folks at National Institutes of Health have studied extensively for its anti-inflammatory properties. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, making this a great afternoon or evening option.
Get Full Recipe13. Lemon Thyme Iced White Tea
Lemon Thyme White Tea
Cold brew four white tea bags with four sprigs of fresh thyme and the zest of one lemon in four cups of cold water overnight. Strain and sweeten with a light honey syrup. This is the most quietly sophisticated drink on this list — understated, fragrant, and the kind of thing you’ll make to impress guests who think they’ve had everything. White tea has a naturally delicate floral quality that thyme complements beautifully without overpowering.
Get Full Recipe14. Cucumber Mint Iced Green Tea
Cucumber Mint Green Tea
Cold brew four green tea bags overnight. Add half a thinly sliced English cucumber and a generous handful of fresh mint leaves to the brewed tea and let infuse in the refrigerator for another two to three hours. Strain and serve over ice. This is peak spa energy — cooling, hydrating, and refreshing in a way that makes plain water feel slightly inadequate.
Get Full RecipeI made the cucumber mint green tea for a spring brunch and got three requests for the recipe before I even sat down. I’ve made it every Sunday since and honestly, it feels like self-care now.
— Maya R., from our community15. Cinnamon Apple Iced Chai
Cinnamon Apple Chai
Brew a strong chai concentrate by simmering four chai tea bags, two cinnamon sticks, four cloves, and a teaspoon of ground cardamom in three cups of water for ten minutes. Strain and cool. Combine with fresh apple juice (not from concentrate), adjust the sweetness with maple syrup, and serve over ice. This is the iced drink for people who aren’t quite ready to let go of winter spices — warm, complex, and absolutely wonderful poured over a glass full of ice.
Get Full RecipeKitchen Tools That Make These Recipes Easier
Look, you can absolutely make iced tea with whatever you have in your kitchen right now. But a few good tools genuinely change the experience — less mess, better flavor, prettier results. Here’s what I actually use and reach for consistently:
Large Glass Cold Brew Pitcher
A 2-quart glass pitcher with a built-in infuser basket is the single most useful thing for cold brew tea. No straining, no mess, and it looks beautiful on the fridge shelf. I use mine daily from March through October.
Fine Mesh Strainer Set
When you’re working with loose herbs, dried flowers, or fruit purees, a set of fine mesh strainers in three sizes covers every situation cleanly. The small one is perfect for pouring directly into a glass without a funnel situation.
Manual Citrus Juicer
So many of these recipes call for fresh lemon or lime juice. A heavy-duty manual citrus press gets significantly more juice out of each fruit than squeezing by hand — I noticed the difference immediately. Less effort, more juice, zero pulp in your drink.
Sip Smarter Tea Brewing Guide
A comprehensive digital guide to cold brew and sun tea techniques that covers steeping times, water temperatures, and flavor-pairing charts. Saves a lot of trial-and-error when you’re new to loose-leaf brewing.
Homemade Syrups Recipe Pack
A downloadable collection of 30 flavored simple syrup recipes — floral, fruity, spiced — specifically designed for cold drinks. Some of the most used recipes in my kitchen came from this pack.
Seasonal Drink Planner Printable
A seasonal drink planning worksheet for mapping out weekly batches, tracking which flavors your household prefers, and building a rotation. Niche? Yes. Genuinely useful? Absolutely yes.
Layered, Sparkling, and Show-Off Iced Teas
FYI, these next recipes are the ones you make when you want something that earns a “wait, you made that?” reaction. They take slightly more technique — mostly just careful pouring and timing — but the results are genuinely impressive without requiring any special equipment beyond what you already have.
16. Ombré Hibiscus and Lemonade Tea
Ombré Hibiscus Lemonade Tea
Brew a strong hibiscus tea concentrate and cool completely. Make fresh lemonade and keep cold. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour the lemonade in first to about two-thirds full, then very slowly pour the hibiscus concentrate over the back of a spoon to create a layered gradient effect. The density difference between the two liquids maintains the ombre for several minutes before they blend together — stir gently when ready to drink for a different flavor in every sip.
Get Full Recipe17. Sparkling Elderflower and Green Tea
Sparkling Elderflower Green Tea
Cold brew four green tea bags overnight, strain, and combine with elderflower cordial to taste. When ready to serve, pour over ice and top with sparkling water — about a 60/40 tea-to-sparkling ratio. Add a few edible flowers and a thin slice of lime. This one has a lightness and elegance that makes it perfect for spring celebrations, and the elderflower adds a honey-like floral note that feels genuinely luxurious. Elderflower cordial is available at most grocery stores and works as both a sweetener and a flavor agent.
Get Full Recipe18. Black Tea and Passion Fruit Iced Tea
Black Tea Passion Fruit
Brew four Assam or English Breakfast tea bags in three cups of boiling water for five minutes. Cool completely. Stir in three tablespoons of passion fruit pulp (fresh or frozen and thawed) and sweeten with a little simple syrup. The tartness of the passion fruit cuts through the malt of the black tea in a way that’s bold and tropical at the same time. Use a cocktail spoon with a long handle to layer this one beautifully over ice.
Get Full Recipe19. Matcha Lemonade Iced Tea
Matcha Lemonade
Whisk one teaspoon of ceremonial grade matcha powder with two tablespoons of cold water until a smooth paste forms (a bamboo matcha whisk makes this genuinely easier and the result is far less lumpy). Mix with a cup of cold water and sweeten lightly. In a separate container, combine fresh lemon juice with cold water and a little honey. Pour the lemonade over ice first, then pour the matcha over the back of a spoon for a green-and-gold layered effect. This one is as beautiful as it is energizing.
Get Full Recipe20. Pineapple Coconut Iced Black Tea
Pineapple Coconut Black Tea
Brew four black tea bags strong, cool, and combine with fresh pineapple juice and a splash of full-fat coconut milk. Sweeten with agave if needed and serve over ice with a wedge of fresh pineapple. This is the tropical vacation in a glass that winter absolutely doesn’t deserve but spring absolutely does. The coconut milk adds body and richness without heaviness, and the pineapple brings enough acidity to keep everything bright.
Get Full Recipe21. Spiced Honey Oolong Iced Tea
Spiced Honey Oolong
Steep four oolong tea bags with one cinnamon stick, four whole peppercorns, and three cardamom pods in four cups of boiling water for five minutes. Remove the bags and let the spices continue steeping as the tea cools. Strain, stir in two tablespoons of raw honey, and refrigerate. Serve over ice with a squeeze of fresh orange. Oolong has a naturally complex, toasty-floral character that carries spices beautifully, and the honey rounds everything into something genuinely special for a spring afternoon.
Get Full RecipeSweeten iced tea while it’s still slightly warm for the most even distribution. If you add honey or sugar to cold tea, it sinks to the bottom and you end up with an unsweetened glass and a sticky layer you’ll never fully dissolve. Warm sweetening, cold serving.
The sparkling elderflower green tea recipe became our go-to for every spring dinner party. I’ve made it six times in two months. Guests always assume I ordered it from somewhere fancy, which I find very funny.
— Jordan T., via community feedbackIf you’ve caught the homemade drink bug (welcome), branching into syrups is a natural next step — these 18 coffee syrup recipes you can make at home translate perfectly to tea as well, and this guide to 12 tea steeping tips to avoid bitter flavors will solve that one frustrating issue every home tea brewer runs into eventually.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Iced Tea
Can I cold brew any type of tea, or does it only work with specific varieties?
Cold brewing works well with most teas, but some varieties do better than others. Green, white, and herbal teas cold brew beautifully because the slow extraction prevents the bitterness you can get with hot water. Black and oolong teas cold brew well too, but they take a bit longer — usually ten to twelve hours for full flavor. Very delicate teas like white peony or silver needle may get slightly murky with a cold brew but will taste excellent regardless.
How long does homemade iced tea keep in the refrigerator?
Plain brewed iced tea keeps for about five days in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator. Once you add fresh fruit, herbs, or dairy components like coconut milk, aim to consume it within two to three days for best quality. If anything smells off or the flavor has dulled significantly, trust your senses and make a fresh batch — it only takes a few minutes of active time.
What’s the best way to sweeten iced tea without refined sugar?
Raw honey, agave syrup, and pure maple syrup all dissolve well when added to slightly warm tea, and each brings its own flavor that can complement the drink. Monk fruit sweetener is a good zero-calorie option if you need something neutral. For a natural approach, dates blended with a small amount of warm water make a surprisingly clean sweetener for earthier teas like rooibos or chai. If you’re curious about natural sweeteners in drinks more broadly, that resource covers the options comprehensively.
Can I make these recipes without any special equipment?
Yes, absolutely. You need a pot or kettle for hot brewing, a regular kitchen strainer, and a pitcher — all things most kitchens already have. For cold brewing, any lidded container works. The fancy pitchers with infuser baskets are genuinely convenient, but they’re optional. A cheesecloth draped over a colander handles loose leaves and herbs perfectly well.
Are there any good caffeine-free iced tea options for evenings?
Several of these recipes are naturally caffeine-free — the rooibos, chamomile, rose hip, and hibiscus options all contain zero caffeine. For a broader look at evening-friendly options that are also functional, the collection of 10 caffeine-free tea recipes for sensitive stomachs has excellent ideas for winding down without sacrificing flavor.
Ready to Start Brewing?
Spring is genuinely one of the best seasons for drinking well at home, and iced tea sits right at the intersection of effortless and impressive. You’re working with ingredients that are inexpensive, widely available, and forgiving — if a batch comes out a little strong, add more water. If it needs sweetness, add honey. There’s almost no way to truly wreck a batch of iced tea, and the upside when you get it right is substantial.
Pick two or three recipes from this list to try first. The hibiscus raspberry and the cucumber mint green tea are the easiest entry points, and both reliably earn reactions from anyone who tries them. Once you’ve got those down, the more layered and complex recipes will feel completely approachable. The sparkling elderflower green tea is next-level for a spring gathering, and the matcha lemonade has become so popular in our community that it seems to show up in every warm-weather roundup we post.
The only thing left to do is brew something. Make a big pitcher, fill a glass with ice, and enjoy the very reasonable reward of having made something genuinely good from scratch. Spring deserves it.
