Lactose Free Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
This drink is the definition of summer in a glass ā fruity, herbal, and refreshingly cool without a drop of dairy anywhere in sight. Fresh strawberries are simmered down with maple syrup until they release a gorgeous deep-pink juice, then steeped with fragrant basil leaves to build a syrup that tastes way more complex than the ingredient list suggests. That homemade syrup gets stirred into brewed black tea and chilled until everything melds together into something that feels genuinely special. Because every component is naturally free of lactose, there's no need to swap anything out or second-guess a single label ā it just works as written. Poured over ice and topped with a sprig of fresh basil and a few strawberry slices, it's the kind of drink you'd happily serve at a backyard gathering or sip solo on a slow afternoon. Make a big pitcher ahead of time and keep it in the fridge ā it only gets better as it chills.
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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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