Barley Free Ginger Lemon Iced Tea
Bright, zingy, and deeply refreshing, this iced tea is the kind of drink that makes you wonder why you ever bought the bottled stuff. Fresh ginger is simmered until the water turns fragrant and golden, creating a spiced base that pairs beautifully with bold black tea and a squeeze of real lemon juice. Maple syrup steps in as the sweetener, adding a subtle warmth that rounds everything out without tipping into cloying territory. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of grain-based additives, so there's no label-scanning required — just clean, simple components you can feel good about. It's a great make-ahead option too; brew it, chill it, and it's ready whenever you need a cool glass. Serve it over plenty of ice with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint for a presentation that looks far fancier than the effort involved.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tea
- 6 cup water
- 4 black tea bags
- 1 oz fresh ginger (about a 2-inch piece), peeled and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
For serving
- ice, for serving
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine 4 cups water and the sliced ginger in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the water is fragrant and lightly golden.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the tea bags and steep for 4 minutes, then remove and discard the tea bags.
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