When the evenings are lighter and the days are warmer, it can only mean one thing: summer is here! It’s the best time of year to get outdoors and enjoy the week or so of sunshine that we’re usually blessed with here in the UK (although, let’s be careful not to jinx it for this summer...).

So, dust off your picnic blanket, pack your cucumber sandwiches, and prep some healthy and refreshing iced teas, because the great British summertime has well and truly arrived.

The hot weather leaves us all looking for a way to properly quench our thirst, but many people find themselves turning to those unhealthy carbonated drinks for a bit of refreshment. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice your health on hot days, because we’ve put together some revitalising iced tea recipes to get you through the summer months. 

making iced tea 

When you make yourself a normal brew, you cover the tea leaves in boiling water and give them enough time to sit and do their thing. The heat from the liquid is what allows the tea to release all of its flavour, making this an essential step in the brewing process. This is why we don't recommend cold brewing iced tea, and instead we create a simple concentrate that can be enjoyed iced in a matter of minutes! 

  •  First, pop your tea temples (that’s what we call our 100%-natural, biodegradable tea bags) into a glass or jug. One temple per person should do the trick.
  • Cover the temples with hot water and leave them to brew for 3-5 minutes.
  • Fill your container of choice with ice and cold water.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to sweeten and garnish
  • Finito

bonus step: if you really want to mix it up, you can pop all of your ingredients into a fancy cocktail shaker to get a nicely blended iced tea.

the super-fruit iced tea

There’s nothing quite like a fruity drink when you’re after a bit of refreshment on a hot day. Whether it’s a sweet summer cocktail or something with less of a kick, throw a bit of fruit in and you’ve got the quenching answer to your thirsty prayers.

If you’re looking for a dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan-friendly healthy tea with a fruity punch, our super fruit tea is the one for you. 


the super-fruit recipe:

  • One super fruit tea temple per person
  • Fresh berries to garnish (a few more blueberries won’t hurt)
  • A squeeze of honey/agave if you need some extra sweetness.

 

iced earl grey

Earl grey is the spiced-up cousin of our breakfast blend. Packed with aroma, flavour and a citrusy twist thanks to the bergamot - this tea lends itself well to being poured over ice and served as a summer drink.

an earl grey recipe to bring the flavours out:

  • One earl grey strong tea temple per person 
  • A single cracked vanilla pod
  • A quarter of a squeezed orange (this brings out the natural bergamot flavours)
  • A slice of orange to garnish

green tea – iced, of course 

Green tea has been hailed one of the healthiest drinks on the planet, and for good reason - it's loaded with antioxidants and nutrients oh and it just so happens to tastes fab!  

The unprocessed nature of green tea also gives a subtle crisp flavour that reminds us of summer, and makes our mao feng green tea the perfect iced tea. 

Clean and green is another of our green tea favourites - it has a bit more oomph with lemongrass, coconut, liquorice root and dandelion leaves for a pop of citrusy flavour. Or if you want to go all out, try a iced matcha  green tea. 

the iced green tea recipe:

  • One mao feng tea temple per person (brewed at 80°C).
  • A garnish of your choice – we recommend cucumber, lemon, or lime (they bring the subtle flavours to life).

If you’re wondering how you can make one of those popular iced matcha lattes, then wonder no more. 

iced ginger oolong tea 

If you can’t decide between a green tea or a black tea, then why not go for something in the middle? Our tung ting oolong tea comes from the mountains of Taiwan, and brings with it a whole load of benefits for the body and the mind. Because this tea is partially fermented, you’ll get the aromatic flavours of a green tea with the strength of a black. 

Nothing goes into our oolong, except for, well… oolong. So you can benefit from the sugar-free, fat-free, stress-busting effects of green tea while maintaining the alertness that comes with the caffeine kick of a black tea. 

the ginger oolong recipe:

  • One tung ting oolong tea temple per person (brewed at 80°C – don’t worry if you don’t have a thermometer, because grabbing your kettle just before it boils should do the trick).
  • A slice of fresh ginger
  • A teaspoon of ginger syrup to sweeten

 

Iced tea is just one way that you can enjoy your tea this summer - take a look at our refreshing iced tea latte recipes – or, if you fancy something stronger, these tea cocktails will give your garden party that unique edge. If you want to get cracking with the iced teas, all of our temples can be found here – and we’d love to hear about your iced tea experiments, so you can tweet us (@teapigs) or post your results on Instagram (be sure to tag us in; again, we’re @teapigs on there).

Pssst... have you seen we also have cold brew teas? Check 'em out here!

Enjoy!

Interested in more ways to enjoy tea this summer?

BACK TO BLOG