Seed Oil Free Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
This drink is the kind of thing you make once and then find yourself craving all summer long. Fresh strawberries are simmered down with maple syrup until they release a gorgeous deep-pink juice, then fragrant basil leaves are steeped right into the warm syrup — the result is floral, fruity, and just sweet enough. Brewed black tea brings a gentle backbone that keeps it from tasting like a juice box. Every single ingredient here is whole and recognizable, which means no refined seed oils or mystery additives hiding in flavored syrups or store-bought tea blends. Avoiding those processed oils doesn't mean sacrificing anything — this pitcher is proof that the cleanest ingredients often make the most impressive drinks. Serve it over a big glass of ice with a sprig of basil on top and it looks like something from a fancy café, even though it comes together with one saucepan and a strainer.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tea
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
For the strawberry basil syrup
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ 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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