Spice Free Sparkling Blueberry Lemon Iced Tea
This drink is the kind of thing you make once and immediately want to serve at every warm-weather gathering. Fresh blueberries are simmered down with maple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon zest into a jewel-toned syrup that gets stirred into brewed black tea, then finished with a generous pour of sparkling water. The result is fruity, bright, and just a little effervescent — genuinely refreshing in a way that store-bought flavored teas rarely manage. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of spices, so there's no label-reading required and no risk of hidden heat or aromatic add-ins sneaking into your glass. The homemade syrup is the real star, giving you deep berry flavor and a citrusy zing that bottled syrups simply can't replicate. It's elegant enough to serve to guests with a few blueberries and lemon slices floating on top, but easy enough to throw together on a regular Tuesday afternoon.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tea
- 4 black tea bags
- 3 cups boiling water
For the blueberry-lemon syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
To finish
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
- ice, for serving
For serving
- fresh blueberries and lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the tea bags in a heatproof pitcher or large bowl. Pour 3 cups of boiling water over them and steep for 5 minutes, then remove the bags without squeezing. Set the brewed tea aside to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
- 2
While the tea steeps, combine the blueberries, 1/2 cup water, maple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries burst and the syrup is slightly thickened, about 8–10 minutes.
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