Artificial Flavors Free Cranberry Orange Iced Tea
This refreshing iced tea gets its gorgeous ruby color and bright, layered flavor entirely from real ingredients — no shortcuts, no mystery additives. Steeped black tea forms the backbone, while fresh orange zest infuses a natural citrus aroma that no bottled flavoring could replicate. Pure unsweetened cranberry juice brings a tart, bold depth that balances beautifully against the gentle sweetness of maple syrup. It's the kind of drink that looks stunning in a glass pitcher and tastes even better than it looks. Many store-bought teas and juice blends sneak in artificial flavors to mimic exactly what this recipe achieves with whole, recognizable ingredients — so making it yourself is genuinely worth the extra step. A couple of hours in the fridge is all it takes before you're pouring it over ice and reaching for an orange slice garnish. Whether you're hosting a summer gathering or just want something more interesting than plain water, this is the pitcher drink you'll keep coming back to.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tea
- 6 cup water
- 4 black tea bags
- 3 strips orange zest (each about 3 inches long), peeled with a vegetable peeler
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup pure unsweetened cranberry juice (100% cranberry, no added sweeteners or apple juice)
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- orange slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the tea bags and orange zest strips, and steep for 5 minutes, until the tea is deep amber and fragrant.
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