This all natural Iced Green Tea with Honey is a perfect thirst-quencher for summer gatherings and holidays. I use pure honey instead of sugar as a sweetener, and it tastes so much better than store bought green tea. I've been making this for a very long time, and while I've eased up a little bit on not adding refined sugar to my recipes, I always sweeten tea with honey. I just think it tastes better!
My iced green tea recipe has only 3 ingredients: green tea bags, honey and water. It takes only 10 minutes to make and can also be made quickly in a pressure cooker.
Making iced green tea instead of buying it also costs less, which is one of the reasons I created this recipe in the first place, and now you find it in our fridge regularly. I also no longer buy yogurt and instead make a creamy Greek yogurt at home. Yogurt is one of my family's favorite snacks but the store bought packages are often loaded with sugar.
Ingredients
Iced green tea with honey is made with just 3 simple, all natural ingredients: water, green tea bags, and honey.
I use locally sourced honey from a beekeeper and Bigelow 100% Premiuim Organic Green Tea bags.
I buy my green tea bags in bulk from Sam's Club, so I always have enough to replenish our stock of iced green tea with honey when it runs out. My family loves this green tea brand the most, but certainly feel free to use your favorite brand.
Why I Use Local Honey
- Not only does honey make a perfect all natural sweetener for this iced green tea, it makes a great sweetener for hot teas, coffees, and yogurts. I use honey in cooking marinades and as an all natural remedy for coughing and sore throats. My family loves honey. We can't get enough of it!
- I highly recommend finding honey sourced locally rather than purchasing traditional store brands. A lot of honey on the grocery store shelves is filled with sugar.
- Honey from local beekeepers should be in it's most natural unprocessed state. It won't be packed with fillers. You'll also be supporting your local small business farmers, and let's be real, farmers right now need a lot of help!
How To Make Homemade Iced Green Tea
- Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add tea bags and let steep in the kettle, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Discard tea bags and pour the hot tea into a large jug.
- Add the honey, stir until it has dissolved and fill with additional 8 cups of cold water. Taste and add more honey if desired.
That's it! Serve over ice immediately or let chill in the fridge.
kristina's tips
How To Make Perfect Homemade Green Tea
- Always squeeze the tea bags with a spoon against the side of the kettle before discarding. This will let out the last bit of green tea goodness from the leaves.
- Honey sticks to everything and it can be a pain to get out of measuring cups. Always add the honey before the cold water. Dunk your measuring cup into the hot water until all of the honey is gone.
- If steeping the tea bags for 5 minutes does not give you an "earthy" enough taste, steep them for a few more minutes next time. A 5 minute steep is perfect for my family, but it may not be for yours.
How To Store
It will keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Although I bet it won't last that long!
Iced Green Tea with Honey
This all natural Iced Green Tea with Honey uses honey as a sweetener and takes only 10 minutes. A perfect thirst-quencher for summer gatherings and holidays.
- 16 green tea bags
- 12 cups water
- ⅔ cup honey
Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a teapot (or pot with a lid).
Remove from heat. Add tea bags, cover, and steep for 5 minutes.
Squeeze out tea bags and discard. Pour tea into a jug.
Add the remaining 4 cups of water. Add honey while hot, immersing the measuring cup into the tea to dissolve all of the honey. Stir well.
Chill for 1 hour before serving.
Storing: Keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
Penni says
What would be a good way to add fresh mint to the tea? Should you steep it with the tea bags?
Kristina Tipps says
If you want to make the entire jug with fresh mint, you can add a bundle of fresh mint when steeping or boiling the tea. Tie mint sprigs with cooking twine, and add them to the either the pot at the beginning or once it's boiled (depending on how strong you'd like the mint flavor). Enjoy!