Strawberry Tea Recipe (Sweet Fruity Iced Tea)

Dress up your tea with this strawberry tea recipe. It is a delicious tea paired with homemade strawberry syrup made with fresh berries. This refreshing and hydrating strawberry iced tea is easy to throw together for a weekly treat or entertaining guests.

Strawberry sweet tea is one that is great for strawberry season. You can pick brightly colored berries that are super sweet and will make the perfect strawberry flavor syrup to add to your iced tea drink.

If you are a lemonade fan, you have to try my jalapeno cucumber lemonade. It is another delicious and hydrating drink we can’t get enough of in our home. Or dress it up with a homemade strawberry margarita.

Looking for another cold strawberry drink? Try this strawberry agua fresca recipe that’s perfect for a summer’s day.

Why This Recipe Works

• Simple Ingredients: This strawberry tea utilizes fresh strawberries and common pantry staples, making it an easy and accessible recipe for everyone.
• Versatile and Customizable: Depending on personal taste, you can adjust the sweetness or opt for different tea bases to create a variation that suits your palette.
• Perfect for Entertaining: Its vibrant color and refreshing taste make strawberry tea an excellent choice for gatherings, offering a unique beverage option beyond the usual offerings.
• Health Benefits: Strawberries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, offering a healthful boost to your great iced tea. This makes it not only delicious but also nutritious.

What’s in This Strawberry Tea Recipe?

• Strawberries: The star of the show, these fresh, juicy berries bring a natural sweetness and vibrant color to the tea, making every sip a delightful burst of fruity flavor.
• Water: Using filtered water ensures a clean, pure base, allowing the rich flavors of the strawberries and tea to shine through without any unwanted impurities.
• Sugar: A dash of granulated sugar enhances the sweetness of the strawberries, harmoniously balancing the tea’s natural bitterness for a perfectly sweetened beverage.
• Tea Bag: Choose black tea for a robust and aromatic foundation or a classic plain tea for a more subtle flavor; either choice provides the perfect canvas for the sweet strawberry infusion.
• Baking Soda: A pinch of baking soda is a clever trick for neutralizing any bitterness in the tea, ensuring a smooth, mellow taste in every glass.
• Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice not only adds a zesty tang but also brightens the overall flavor profile, providing the perfect balance of the strawberries and sugar sweetness.

The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Substitutions and Variations

• Baking soda reduces the bitterness of tea. If you find your tea is not bitter, skip the baking soda.
• Use a mix of berries to add more flavor— raspberry, blueberries, etc.
• Swap strawberries with peaches or other fruit that would flavor your tea nicely.
• The lemon juice helps to balance the flavors, but it is optional.
• Use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones if needed.

How to Make Strawberry Fruit Tea (step-by-step directions)

1. Combine cold water and sugar in a medium pan. Add the berries. (Photo 1)
2. Heat over medium-high until you have a rolling boil. (Photo 2)
3. Stir occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half. (Photo 3)
4. Strain the berries using a fine mesh sieve. Allow the syrup to cool. (Photo 4)

1. Brew your preferred tea; pour it into a large pitcher. (Photo 5)
2. Mix in strawberry syrup to taste. (Photo 6). Add extra sugar, lemon juice, and baking soda as desired.
3. Chill the tea until ready to serve. Serve over ice, garnishing with fresh strawberries in each glass.

Recipe Tips

• Adjust Sweetness: Taste your tea after adding the strawberry syrup and adjust the sweetness as needed. Everyone’s preference is different, so adding more sugar or syrup can tailor the tea to your liking.
• Chill Thoroughly: For the best flavor, ensure the tea is thoroughly chilled before serving. This enhances the refreshment factor and marries the natural flavors beautifully.
• Garnish for Impact: A few slices of fresh strawberry or a sprig of mint can elevate the presentation of your strawberry tea, making it even more inviting.
• Experiment with Tea Bases: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of tea. Green teas, white teas, herbal teas, and other fruit teas can offer delightful variations to the base flavor.
• Serve with Ice: To keep the tea cold and refreshing, serve it over plenty of ice. This keeps it cool and delicious, especially on hot summer days.
• Prep in Advance: Make the strawberry syrup ahead of time and keep it refrigerated so you can whip up this delightful drink in no time when needed.
• Use High-Quality Tea: The quality of the tea you choose will greatly impact the overall taste of your strawberry tea. Opt for high-quality tea bags or loose-leaf tea for the best results.

Storing Tips 

Your tea will need to be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just stir well between serving it up. Then, when you are ready, you can whip up another batch.

If you don’t use all the strawberry syrup, store it in a sealed container in the fridge and then use it to flavor drinks.

Serving Suggestions

This delightful strawberry tea pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes, making it the perfect beverage for a light lunch or a summery cookout. Consider serving this tea alongside BBQ Peach Chicken for a mouthwatering meal, perfectly complementing its smoky sweetness. 

Alternatively, add a Mexican flair to your table with crispy Rolled Tacos, or keep things simple yet delicious with juicy Cheeseburger Sliders. For a refreshing side, an Heirloom Tomato Salad dressed with balsamic and feta can provide a vibrant and flavorful contrast to the sweet and tangy notes of the strawberry tea.

Recipe FAQs

More Drink Recipes We Love:

• Shark Bite Drink
• Peach Gin Fizz
• Watermelon Aqua Fresca
• Jalapeno Cucumber Lemonade
• Fresh Kiwi & Mint Mojito
• Be sure to check out our drink recipes for every season!