Homemade Ginger Iced Tea Recipe: Refreshing Brew for Summer

Making homemade ginger iced tea with lemon and mint is simple and refreshing. This flavorful drink is perfect for hot days and can be prepared in minutes with just a few ingredients.

Ginger iced tea soothes the stomach and can ease nausea, but you don’t need any ailment to enjoy a cold glass. The recipe below is straightforward, versatile, and easy to repeat whenever you want a light, cooling beverage.

What is iced tea?

Iced tea is simply brewed tea served cold. The earliest recorded iced tea recipe dates back to 1876 and described a non‑carbonated, often sweetened drink usually served with lemon. This ginger iced tea follows that tradition: it’s brewed, flavored with lemon and mint, and chilled before serving.

How do you prepare iced tea?

There are two common approaches: hot brewing and cold brewing. Both produce excellent results; the method you choose affects flavor, bitterness, and preparation time. Below I explain both methods and share the basic hot-brewed recipe used here.

Basic recipe

Begin by dissolving your sweetener in hot water so it blends evenly. Add tea and other flavorings—ginger, lemon, and mint—while the liquid is hot so they infuse properly. After steeping, strain the tea and top up with cold water if needed.

Chill the strained tea in the refrigerator. Add ice and garnish just before serving for extra refreshment and a pleasant presentation.

The recipe below uses the hot-brewed method, but it also works with cold-brewing if you prefer a milder, less bitter result.

Cold-brewed iced tea

Cold brewing means steeping tea leaves or tea bags in cold water in the fridge for 6–8 hours. Loose leaf tea usually gives a better flavor and is easiest to strain. Cold-brewed tea extracts fewer tannins, so it tastes smoother and less bitter and typically needs less sweetener.

Why choose cold-brewed iced tea?

Hot water pulls more tannins from tea leaves, which can create bitterness. Cold brewing prevents much of that tannin release, producing a gentler flavor that highlights subtle notes and requires less sweetness.

Hot brewed iced tea

Hot brewing is the fastest and most common way to make iced tea. Heat water to just below boiling, dissolve your sweetener, then steep tea bags or loose tea with ginger, lemon, and mint. After steeping, cool and refrigerate until chilled.

Why choose hot-brewed iced tea?

Hot brewing is quicker, releases flavors more fully (making tea bags more effective), and helps dissolve sugar easily. Many people also enjoy the bright, slightly tannic character that hot brewing produces.

Is iced tea bad for you?

Moderation is key. Sweetened iced tea contains sugar and calories, so try not to drink large amounts daily. Unsweetened tea avoids added calories but still contains naturally occurring compounds that are best enjoyed as part of a varied diet. An occasional glass is a pleasant and reasonable treat.

Variations

This ginger iced tea is a great base to customize. A few ideas:

• Use white tea instead of green for a lighter, less bitter flavor.
• Replace sugar with 4 tablespoons honey, 4 tablespoons maple syrup (vegan), or a non‑caloric sweetener like stevia to taste.

Tips

• Dissolve sugar in hot water before adding other ingredients for easier stirring.
• Turn off the heat before adding tea and let the water cool slightly (around 185 °F / 85 °C) to reduce tannin extraction.
• Don’t squeeze tea bags when removing them, since squeezing releases extra tannins and can increase bitterness.
• Peel ginger easily by scraping with the back of a spoon; leftover ginger can be sliced and frozen for future use.

Storage

You can prepare this tea ahead of time and store it for several days. Helpful storage tips:

• Make concentrated batches: Brew a concentrated tea, refrigerate up to three days, and dilute with cold water when serving—handy for parties and saves fridge space.
• Refrigerate: Keep strained iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze smart: Freeze concentrated tea in ice cube trays and add the cubes to the pitcher to chill and dilute at the same time without watering down flavor.

Other Delicious Drinks

If you enjoy this ginger iced tea, you might also like other fruit- and herb-infused iced teas and lemonades that use similar techniques and fresh ingredients.

Made this recipe? Tag your photo with #byandreajanssen on Instagram — it’s always lovely to see your creations! If you tried the recipe here, please leave a rating in the recipe card to help other cooks.

How to prepare homemade ginger iced tea

Andréa

Step-by-Step Directions