My grandma used to prepare these in large quantities for the community, and now I’m continuing the tradition!

This Strawberry Citrus Iced Tea is a delightful and fruity twist on a classic. The combination of black tea with fresh strawberries, bright citrus slices, and a touch of sweetness creates a wonderfully refreshing and flavorful iced beverage, perfect for a warm day.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Steep the Tea: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the 4 black tea bags. Let the tea steep for 5 to 7 minutes, depending on your preferred strength of tea. Steeping longer will result in a stronger flavor.
2. Prepare Fruits: While the tea is steeping, wash the fresh strawberries, orange, and lemon thoroughly. Hull the strawberries and slice them. Slice the orange and lemon into rounds.
3. Sweeten the Tea (Optional): After the tea has steeped for the desired time, remove the tea bags from the saucepan. If you are using honey or sugar to sweeten the iced tea, stir it into the warm tea until it is completely dissolved. Allow the sweetened tea to cool to room temperature. This prevents the hot tea from melting the ice and diluting the flavors later.
4. Combine Ingredients in Pitcher: In a large pitcher, combine the cooled black tea with the sliced fresh strawberries, sliced orange, and sliced lemon.
5. Refrigerate to Infuse: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the strawberry citrus iced tea mixture for at least 1 hour. This chilling time allows the flavors of the fruits to meld beautifully with the tea, creating a more vibrant and refreshing drink. For a more intense fruit flavor, you can refrigerate it for longer, up to a few hours.
6. Serve: When ready to serve, fill individual glass jars or cups with ice cubes. Pour the chilled strawberry citrus iced tea over the ice.
7. Garnish: Garnish each serving with a few fresh mint leaves for an extra touch of freshness and visual appeal. Enjoy this delightful and homemade Strawberry Citrus Iced Tea!