What’s better than sitting back after a long day with a nice, tall, chilled beverage? Personally, I love to indulge in iced tea. It’s one of the main ways I stay hydrated in the warmer months. I’ve shared three of my favorite iced tea recipes below. I hope you enjoy them!

RASPBERRY BASIL ICED TEA

Ingredients:

• 1 package of fresh raspberries
• 1 cup of fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 oolong tea bags
• Lime seltzer water
• Ice cubes
• Raspberries as garnish (optional)
• Basil Leaves as garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. For the simple syrup, brew oolong tea then add it to a medium saucepan. Add sugar and simmer while stirring constantly. Simmer until sugar has fully dissolved.
2. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature, then place it into the refrigerator until chilled.
3. In a food processor, combine the raspberries and basil. Blend until juice forms.
4. Pour the mixture over a fine mesh sieve to remove raspberry seeds.
5. Refrigerate the juice until chilled.
6. Serve over ice, add the oolong simple syrup to taste
7. Top off with seltzer water
8. Add raspberry and basil garnish (optional)

CITRUS LAVENDER ICED TEA

Ingredients:

• 2 cup spring water
• 2 cups of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 2 lavender tea bags
• Club soda
• Ice cubes
• Fresh thyme as garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Steep the lavender tea bag in spring water for 5 minutes then remove tea bag. Reserve 1 cup.
2. To make the simple syrup, use a medium saucepan and combine the tea water and granulated sugar. Simmer on medium-low heat and stir until sugar has fully dissolved.
3. Remove the pan from the burner, cover and allow liquid to cool to room temperature. Place it into the refrigerator until chilled.
4. In a pitcher add orange juice and lemon juice. Add the simple syrup to taste and stir well
5. Serve over ice. Top off with club soda and garnish with fresh thyme (optional)

APPLE MINT ICED TEA RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 2 mint tea bags
• 4 cups of spring water
• 1 cup of apple juice
• 1 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• Ice cubes
• Rosemary twigs (optional)

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, boil spring water then remove pan from the burner
2. Add the tea bags and steep for 5-10 minutes. Discard the tea bags and cover with a lid. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature
3. In a pitcher, add the sliced apples, apple juice and mint tea. Give it a stir and refrigerate for 2 hours
4. Serve over ice and garnish with rosemary twigs (optional)