Citric Acid Free Strawberry Lime Iced Tea
Fresh strawberries are crushed and strained right into the pitcher here, giving this iced tea a gorgeous deep-pink color and real fruit flavor that no powder or concentrate can match. The lime juice comes straight from the fruit, and maple syrup steps in as the sweetener, keeping the whole drink free from the processed additives and citric acid that sneak into so many store-bought beverages and flavored syrups. That combination of naturally sweet strawberry, bright citrus, and bold black tea is genuinely refreshing — the kind of drink you want to sip on a warm afternoon without second-guessing the ingredient list. Steeping the tea off the heat keeps it smooth rather than bitter, and chilling everything before pouring over ice means it stays perfectly balanced from the first glass to the last. A few lime slices and fresh mint on top make it look like something from a café menu, but the whole process is straightforward enough to pull off on any weeknight. It's a great option when you need something crowd-pleasing that everyone at the table can actually enjoy.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tea base
- 3 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
- 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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