BHA & BHT Free Strawberry Lime Iced Tea

Total time45 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

Bright, fruity, and refreshingly tart, this strawberry lime iced tea is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel like a genuine occasion. Every ingredient here is whole and straightforward — black tea, fresh strawberries, real lime juice, and a touch of maple syrup for sweetness — so there are no hidden preservatives or synthetic additives to worry about. That matters more than most people realize with bottled and canned beverages, which routinely rely on BHA and BHT to extend shelf life. Making it from scratch puts you fully in control of what goes into the glass. The strawberry infusion technique is clever and satisfying: you simply crush the berries by hand, strain out the solids, and end up with a gorgeous deep-pink juice that blends beautifully with the steeped tea. Maple syrup keeps the sweetness clean and natural without any of the processed-sugar concerns that come with conventional simple syrups. Poured over ice with a lime slice and a sprig of mint, this is the kind of drink you'll want to keep on rotation all summer long.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the tea base

3 cups water
4 black tea bags
Lipton Black Tea, 8 oz Twinings of London Black Tea English Breakfast - 20 Count Twinings of London Black Tea English Breakfast Decaffeinated - 20 Count PG Tips Black Tea - 40 Count Stash Black Tea English Breakfast - 20 Count
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3 tbsp maple syrup

For the strawberry infusion

1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
1 cup cold water

For serving

3 cups ice cubes
lime slices, for garnish (optional)
fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1
Bring 3 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 stir in the maple syrup until dissolved. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
2
While the tea cools, combine the strawberries and 1 cup cold water in the saucepan (or a separate bowl). Use a fork or the back of a spoon to crush the strawberries until they release their juice and the water turns deep pink, about 1 minute.

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