Artificial Food Coloring Free Sparkling Lemonade Berry Iced Tea
This drink is the kind of thing that looks like it came from a fancy café but comes together entirely from real, whole ingredients you probably already have on hand. Artificially colored beverages are everywhere — from neon sports drinks to pre-made iced teas loaded with dyes — so making your own from scratch is genuinely satisfying. The gorgeous rosy-pink hue here comes entirely from fresh muddled strawberries, which release their natural juice right into the pitcher. A maple syrup and lemon zest syrup adds a bright, rounded sweetness that beats any flavored powder or concentrate by a mile. Steeped black tea gives the whole thing depth and body, while chilled sparkling water brings the fizz at the very end so nothing goes flat. It's refreshing, visually stunning, and completely free of anything artificial — just fruit, tea, and a little citrus doing all the work.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tea base
- 4 black tea bags
- 3 cups boiling water
For the lemon syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ cup water
For the berry layer
- 16 medium strawberries, hulled and halved (about 200 g)
For assembling
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the tea bags in a heatproof pitcher or large measuring cup. Pour the 3 cups of boiling water over them and steep for 4–5 minutes, until the tea is deep amber and full-flavored. Remove the bags without squeezing, then let the tea cool to room temperature, about 20–25 minutes.
- 2
While the tea steeps, combine the maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the maple syrup is fully dissolved, about 2 minutes — the mixture should be smooth and slightly steaming but not boiling. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
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