Paraben Free Green Tea Citrus Iced Tea
This refreshing iced tea is bright, lightly sweet, and layered with citrus flavor that makes it feel like something you'd order at a fancy café — except you made it yourself. Every ingredient here is straightforward and whole: brewed green tea, fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice, a touch of maple syrup, and real citrus zest. For anyone navigating paraben concerns, that simplicity matters enormously, since synthetic preservatives and fragrance compounds can sneak into flavored beverages and store-bought drink mixes in ways that aren't always obvious on the label. Brewing your own tea at home puts you fully in control of what goes into your glass. The technique is gentle too — steeping the green tea at just below a simmer keeps it smooth and mellow rather than bitter, so the citrus can really shine. A long chill in the fridge lets all the flavors meld beautifully, and by the time you pour it over ice, it tastes like it took far more effort than it did. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a citrus wheel and it's genuinely stunning.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cups water
- 4 green tea bags
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 medium orange)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp orange zest
For serving
- 2 cups ice cubes
- lemon or orange slices, for garnish (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of water to 175°F (80°C) in a medium saucepan — just below a simmer, with small bubbles beginning to form at the bottom. Remove from heat.
- 2
Add the green tea bags and steep for 3 minutes, then remove and discard the bags. Do not squeeze the bags, as this releases bitter tannins.
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