A great start to a healthy summer, this Green Iced Tea with Lemon is the perfect refreshment that also has major health benefits.
The refreshing taste of green iced tea with lemon is so light and refreshing – it’s the perfect addition to a picnic or outdoor meal, but also just to sip on during the warm weather to cool down.
I wasn’t an iced tea person until a few years ago. I used to want sweeter, sugar-packed drinks. Now that I’ve (mostly) out-grown my once-massive sweet tooth, I prefer more natural tasting drinks and green tea has become one of my favorites.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I drink more iced tea than water during the summer. Who can blame me, right? Iced tea is so refreshing. It’s basically water, but better. The smooth taste of green tea with a splash of lemon to brighten the drink up is so nice, especially in summer.
How to Make Green Iced Tea With Lemon
Making green iced tea is super simple. It takes just a few minutes to brew the tea, and a few hours for it to chill before it’s ready to serve.
Start by heating four cups of water in a kettle to 185 degrees F. Then add the tea bags to a heat-resistant pitcher and pour in the hot water. Let the tea brew for 3 minutes. Green tea is quite delicate and it doesn’t need to be steeped for long. Get rid of the tea bags. Add sugar to your desired sweetness.
If you’re going to be serving the tea right away, stir in six cups of ice cubes, which will chill it down quickly, so it can then be served with additional ice. If you’ve got time to let it chill, add 4 cups of cold water, then put it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, until completely chilled before serving over ice with freshly sliced lemon.
It’s that easy! You’ll have this wonderful drink done in no time flat.
Tips For Making Green Iced Tea With Lemon
You can use any green tea you prefer, bags or loose leaf. Our favorite green tea is Tazo Zen. Not only is it wonderfully refreshing, it has notes of citrus in it for a really great flavor. Those undertones will compliment the lemon in this tea, and add more depth to the flavor.
If you don’t have a temperature controlled kettle, you can heat the water to boiling and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before steeping the tea. That will take the temperature of the water down to the preferred range.
Adding mint to this iced tea gives it a wonderful pop of flavor, as it works well with both green tea and lemon.
We use granulated white sugar for this recipe, but you can use honey as a sweetener instead of sugar, or a sugar alternatives if you want to keep it calorie and carb free.
Health Benefits of Green Tea and Lemon
Green tea is filled with healthy antioxidants that benefit our bodies in numerous ways. It can reduce inflammation and protect against cell damage, as well decreasing signs of aging.
Lemon is also a super healthy ingredient. Lemons, like all citrus fruit, are rich with vitamin C which is a vital part of bone construction and maintenance. They also help the body absorb iron better, leading to lower chance of anemia.
These two power players mix together to make a delicious drink that is also very good for you!
Other Iced Tea Flavors to Try
You can never have enough iced tea recipes for summer. If you love this iced tea, you should definitely try a few of our others. We drink a lot of iced tea in the summer, especially with fresh seasonal fruit.
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Green Iced Tea With Lemon
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 4 green tea bags
- 1 tbsp sugar or honey
- 6 cups ice cubes
- 1 lemon sliced
Instructions
- Heat four cups of water in a kettle to 185 degrees F. Add the tea bags to a heat-resistant pitcher and pour in the hot water.
- Leave to brew for 3 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags. Add the sugar to your desired sweetness.
- Stir in six cups of ice cubes (or 4 cups of cold water). Chill before serving over ice with freshly sliced lemon.
Notes
Nutrition
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Jillian attends college in a small town in Oregon, where she’s is pursuing her passion for people. She enjoys music, writing, and baking in her spare time.