High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Sparkling Lemonade Berry Iced Tea
This drink is the kind of thing you'd pay too much for at a café, and it's genuinely easy to make at home. Muddled fresh strawberries give it a deep, jammy berry flavor that no powder or syrup packet could ever replicate, while the lemon syrup — made with maple syrup instead of the corn-syrup-laden sweeteners hiding in most store-bought mixes — keeps everything bright and clean-tasting. That swap matters more than you might think, since bottled lemonades, flavored teas, and even "natural" drink syrups are notorious for sneaking in sweeteners you didn't ask for. Here, you control every ingredient from the steep to the pour. The strained berry base blends beautifully with the bold black tea, and the hit of chilled sparkling water at the end gives it a satisfying fizz that makes it feel festive without any fuss. A few lemon slices and fresh mint on top and it looks like something from a summer brunch spread. Make a big batch of the tea-berry base ahead of time and just add the sparkling water when you're ready to serve — it's that kind of recipe.
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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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