Celebrate National Iced Tea Day with these mouth-watering recipes

This summer keeps bringing us sweetness, this time in the form of that staple of every sunny day: iced tea. Today is National Iced Tea Day, a celebration of this refreshing summer classic. This delicious & smooth drink is enjoyed all year round, but it hits best on a nice, hot summer day with some salty snacks and a wide open backyard.

The classic version is perfect for that, but we at Film Daily know that many kitchen experimentalists will take today to try some new recipes that take ice tea to new heights. You certainly have quite a few to choose from on the internet, from simple to unique. This leaves the only question to be where to start? And why has stevia been banned in some beverages?

Luckily, we sipped our way through the internet to find the best iced tea recipes for this National Iced Tea Day! Grab your pitchers and let’s get stirring!

Southern Sweet Tea

This first addition to our list of iced tea recipes is the can’t-go-wrong classic that everyone loves! This will make you the hero of any barbecue and, after one sip, will make you feel like you’re sitting on a porch in Georgia, dressed to the nines like any Southern belle.

Ingredients

4-5 family-size tea bags
1 1/2 – 2 cups sugar
1 pinch baking soda (optional)
Water

Instructions

Bring 1 quart of water to boil in a medium saucepan or tea kettle set over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Allow to steep for about fifteen minutes. Do not allow the tea to become cold.
In a gallon pitcher, add the sugar and pour in about 1/2 of the warm tea. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Pour in the remainder of the brewed tea, being careful not to drop in tea bags.
Add baking soda and stir to combine. If serving immediately baking soda may not be needed.
Fill the pitcher with cold water and serve over ice. Great with a wedge of lemon, lime, orange or a sprig of mint.

Strawberry-Basil Iced Tea

Want an iced tea that combines savory & sweet? This next addition to our list of iced tea recipes is for you!

Ingredients

8 black-tea bags
1 lb. of strawberries, hulled & halved (quartered if large)
1 cup water, plus more for steeping
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh basil, plus more for serving
Ice, for serving

Instructions

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add tea bags, and let steep for five minutes.
Place strawberries in a bowl. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add basil, and let steep for ten minutes.
Strain over strawberries; discard basil. Toss to coat. Let stand until cool, about twenty-five minutes.
Combine strawberries (with syrup) and tea in a pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled. Serve over ice, and garnish with basil.

Raspberry Lemon Iced Tea

This last addition to our list of iced tea recipes is perfect for any sour flavor lover! This tart iced tea is refreshing while also giving you a little kick of tang that’ll have you pouring another glass.

Ingredients for the syrups

2 cups fresh raspberries plus extra for garnish
1 cup sugar
¼ cup water

Ingredients for the tea

Juice of 4 lemons
1 lemon, thinly sliced for garnish
2 cups water
1 teaspoon tea leaf or 1 tea bag

Instructions

For the syrup, mix all the ingredients and bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
Once done, lower the heat and let it simmer until the berries are softened. This should take about ten minutes.
Let it cool and then strain the syrup to a jar using a sieve.
For the tea, bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a deep pan.
Add tea to the pan, cover it and stop the heat. Let it brew for five minutes.
Once done, strain it to the raspberry syrup jar using a sieve.
Next, add lemon juice to the jar and give it a stir.
Keep it in the refrigerator and let it cool down completely.
While serving, drop some ice cubes in a glass, add a slice of lemon, two to three fresh raspberries and the raspberry iced tea.

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Have any other delicious iced tea recipes? Drop them below in the comments to keep this National Iced Tea Day fresh!