Beef Free Sparkling Lemonade Berry Iced Tea
This drink is the kind of thing you make once and then find yourself craving all summer long. Freshly muddled strawberries are the secret weapon here — pressing them by hand coaxes out a vivid, fragrant juice that no store-bought syrup can replicate. A quick maple-lemon syrup brings brightness and just enough sweetness without leaning on refined sugar, and the whole thing gets lifted at the end by a generous pour of chilled sparkling water. The result is layered, lightly fizzy, and genuinely refreshing in a way that feels a little fancy without requiring any real effort. Naturally free from any animal-based ingredients, every component in this glass is plant-derived and straightforward to source. It's the kind of beverage that looks stunning with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint tucked in, making it just as at home on a brunch table as it is on a lazy afternoon porch. Make a big batch of the tea-berry base ahead of time and add the sparkling water right before serving so every glass stays perfectly effervescent.
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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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