Description

This refreshing easy cherry iced tea recipe is perfect for those hot days when you need something cool and delicious. The sweet and tart flavor of cherries combined with the soothing essence of tea creates a refreshing drink that’s hard to resist.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup fresh cherries
4 cups water (divided)
4–6 black tea bags or 4 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea
½ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Wash 1 cup of fresh cherries thoroughly. Remove the stems and pits, then slice them in half.
In a medium saucepan, combine the halved cherries with 1 cup of water and ½ cup of sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the cherries break down and the mixture thickens slightly, about 10-15 minutes.
Once the cherry mixture has thickened, remove it from heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the syrup into a bowl or measuring cup, pressing down on the cherries to extract as much juice as possible. Set aside.
In the same saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and add the tea bags or loose tea. Allow it to steep for about 5-7 minutes.
After steeping, remove the tea bags or strain the loose tea. Add the strained cherry syrup and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to the brewed tea. Stir well to combine.
Let the tea cool to room temperature, then transfer it to the refrigerator to chill for at least 1-2 hours.
When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice and pour the chilled cherry iced tea over the ice. Garnish with whole cherries or lemon slices.

Notes

For a healthier alternative, you can substitute sugar with honey or a sugar substitute. You can also use frozen cherries if fresh ones are not available.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 glass
Calories: 100
Sugar: 20
Sodium: 5
Carbohydrates: 25
Fiber: 1

Keywords: cherry iced tea, refreshing drink, summer beverage, easy recipe