Beef Free Lemon-Basil Mint Green Tea
This herbal iced tea is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you've got your life together — bright, fragrant, and genuinely refreshing in a way that store-bought bottled teas never quite manage. Fresh mint and basil steep together with green tea bags in water kept just below a simmer, which is the key move here: that careful temperature control keeps the flavor clean and golden rather than bitter or astringent. Raw honey melts right into the warm liquid, adding a gentle floral sweetness, while fresh lemon juice gives the whole thing a citrusy lift that wakes up every sip. The result is a layered, complex flavor that tastes like it took way more effort than it actually did. Poured over ice with a few thin lemon slices floating on top, it's as pretty as it is delicious — perfect for a slow afternoon or as a crowd-pleasing pitcher drink for guests. Every single ingredient here is whole and plant-based, so there's nothing to second-guess and no label-reading required.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cups water
- 4 green tea bags
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 3 tbsp raw honey
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1–2 lemons)
For serving
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced (optional)
- ice, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of water to 175°F (80°C) in a small saucepan — just below a simmer, with small bubbles beginning to form at the bottom. Remove from heat.
- 2
Add the green tea bags, mint leaves, and basil leaves to the hot water. Steep for 4–5 minutes, until the tea is a clear golden-green and the herbs are fragrant. Do not steep longer, as the tea can turn bitter.
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