Vegetarian Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
This drink is the kind of thing you make once and immediately want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge 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 that syrup for a herbal twist that feels genuinely sophisticated. The whole thing comes together with brewed black tea and cold water, giving you a refreshing base that's bold enough to stand up to all that fruity sweetness. Because every ingredient here is straightforwardly plant-based, there's nothing to second-guess — no hidden additives, no animal-derived sweeteners, just clean, vibrant flavors. Straining the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve gives the finished tea a beautifully clear, jewel-toned look that makes it as pretty to serve as it is to drink. Pile the glasses high with ice, tuck in a sprig of fresh basil, and you've got something that looks like it came from a fancy café but cost a fraction of the price.
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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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