Cool off with a refreshing glass of cold brew peach iced tea. This simple homemade iced tea uses fresh peaches, orange peel and mint to create a crisp, clean flavor without bitterness.
Homemade peach iced tea
There’s nothing quite like a chilled glass of iced tea on a warm afternoon. This cold brew peach iced tea is perfect for summer: easy to make, naturally flavored and customizable to your preferred sweetness. Make a large pitcher and keep it in the fridge for several days of cooling refreshment.
Why you’ll love this peach iced tea
- All-natural ingredients. Unlike many store-bought iced teas, this recipe uses real tea, ripe peaches and simple, natural flavorings.
- Adjustable sweetness. Sweeten to taste or leave it unsweetened for a lighter cup.
- Diet-friendly. Naturally vegan and gluten-free; omit sugar for a lower-carb option.
Cold brew iced tea
The secret to a smooth, crisp iced tea is cold-brewing. Cold brew means steeping the tea in cold water instead of pouring boiling water over the tea bags. Although hot brewing is faster, it can extract tannins that cause a bitter edge, which is often masked with extra sugar and artificial flavors in many commercial iced teas.
Cold-brewing produces a cleaner, more delicate cup. Because the tea steeps slowly in cold water—typically 6 hours or more—the subtle flavors of the tea and the added fruit have time to develop without bitterness. If you’re using delicate white or herbal teas, hot brewing works fine since those teas don’t develop the same bitterness when steeped hot.
Peach iced tea ingredients
- Peaches: Use 3 fresh ripe peaches, sliced.
- Orange peel: Peel of 1 orange, sliced into large pieces to infuse zest.
- Mint: 3 sprigs to add a bright, cooling note.
- Sweetener: 2–5 tsp organic cane sugar, maple syrup or honey, adjusted to taste.
- Earl Grey tea: 5 tea bags (or your preferred black tea; English breakfast works well).
- Water: 1 litre (about 4.2 cups) cold water.
How to make peach iced tea from scratch
- Add the sliced peaches to the bottom of a large pitcher and gently muddle with a wooden spoon to release some juice.
- Add the orange peel slices, mint sprigs, chosen sweetener, tea bags and cold water. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 6–12 hours to allow the flavors to infuse.
- Remove the tea bags and strain if you prefer a clear tea. Serve over ice and garnish with extra peach slices or mint.
How to store iced tea
Transfer the strained tea to a clean pitcher or jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best freshness, strain the tea after the first day and keep just the liquid cold-brewed tea in the fridge; fresh fruit and herbs can lose texture over time.
Expert tips for making iced tea
- Choose your tea: Black tea provides a rich base for peach flavor. Use green or white tea if you prefer a lighter taste.
- Hot brew shortcut: If you’re short on time, steep tea bags in boiling water for 2 minutes only, then cool to room temperature before pouring over ice. Avoid over-steeping to prevent bitterness.
- Sweeten carefully: Start with 2–3 teaspoons of sweetener and taste after chilling; it’s easy to add more but not to remove it.
- Strain for clarity: For a clear beverage, strain out the peaches and herbs before serving. If you enjoy fruit in the glass, leave them in and enjoy a more rustic presentation.
More refreshing drinks to try
- Chia Fresca
- Watermelon Mojito Frosé
- Strawberry Mango Smoothie
- Spicy Grapefruit Margarita
- Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
If you make this Cold Brew Peach Iced Tea, leave a comment to share how it turned out. Try preparing it the evening before so the flavors have time to meld—overnight refrigeration often produces the best results.
Cold Brew Peach Iced Tea
- Author: Jessica Hoffman
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes (plus steeping time)
- Yield: 4–6 servings
- Category: Drink
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Cool down with a glass of cold-brewed peach iced tea, lightly flavored with orange peel and mint. It’s refreshing, naturally sweet, and easy to make ahead.
Ingredients
- 3 peaches, sliced
- Peel of 1 orange, in large slices
- 3 sprigs of mint
- 2–5 tsp organic cane sugar, maple syrup or honey
- 5 tea bags of Earl Grey tea
- 1-litre water
Instructions
- Add sliced peaches to a pitcher and gently muddle to release juices.
- Add orange peel, mint, sweetener, tea bags and water. Stir to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 6–12 hours.
- Remove tea bags, strain if desired, and serve over ice.
Notes
Use a vegetable peeler to remove wide strips of orange peel. I usually add about 3 tsp of maple syrup or cane sugar, but increase if you prefer a sweeter tea.
Preparing the tea the night before yields the best, most developed flavor. For a clear beverage, strain out the fruit before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 20
- Sugar: 13g
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g