Barley Free Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Few drinks feel as refreshing and effortlessly elegant as a homemade iced tea built around peak-season strawberries and fragrant fresh basil. The real star here is the strawberry basil syrup ā ripe berries are simmered with maple syrup until they release a gorgeous deep-pink juice, then the basil steeps right into the warm liquid, layering in a subtle herbal note that makes every sip feel a little unexpected. Straining the syrup into a pitcher keeps the final drink silky and smooth, while the brewed black tea adds just enough depth to balance all that fruity sweetness. Every ingredient in this recipe is naturally free of grain-based additives, so there's no label-scanning or substitution stress involved ā just clean, simple components working beautifully together. It's the kind of drink that looks stunning on a table without requiring much effort at all, especially with a few basil sprigs and strawberry slices floated on top. Make a big pitcher ahead of time, let it chill, and you've got something that tastes far more special than anything you'd pull from a store shelf.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
For the tea
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
For the strawberry basil syrup
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- Ā½ cup maple syrup
- Ā½ cup water
- Ā½ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
To finish
- 2 cups cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh basil sprigs, for garnish (optional)
- sliced strawberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags, then set the brewed tea aside to cool slightly.
- 2
While the tea steeps, combine the halved strawberries, maple syrup, and 1/2 cup water in the same saucepan (or a second small saucepan) over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries have softened and released their juices and the liquid is a deep pink, about 8 minutes.
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