Carrageenan Free Sparkling Lemonade Berry Iced Tea
Few drinks hit the way a tall, ice-cold glass of something fruity, fizzy, and bright does on a warm day. This one layers deep black tea with a silky maple-lemon syrup and fresh muddled strawberries, then finishes with a generous pour of sparkling water for that satisfying effervescence. Every ingredient here is whole and straightforward — no store-bought mixes, no flavored syrups with mystery additives, and absolutely nothing that could sneak in a thickener or stabilizer you didn't sign off on. That matters more than people realize, since many bottled teas, flavored waters, and commercial lemonade blends rely on additives that aren't always obvious on the label. The lemon syrup is made from scratch in just a couple of minutes on the stovetop, using real lemon juice, zest, and maple syrup, so you control exactly what goes in. Muddling fresh strawberries and then straining them out gives the drink a gorgeous blush color and genuine berry flavor without any shortcuts. Serve it over ice with a mint sprig and a lemon wheel, and it looks as good as it tastes.
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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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