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Down in the Deep South, we know how to make iced tea. My Mama’s iced mint tea recipe includes tea bags and fresh mint sweetened with lemon juice, orange juice concentrate, and sugar. It’s deliciously refreshing.
You are gonna love Mama’s iced mint tea recipe. Now, when you live in the South, you get used to some strange weather. Somedays it feels like the third level of Hades and some days are entirely tolerable with a light breeze that keeps the bugs at bay long enough to sit and enjoy the sunshine. On days like this, a glass of iced tea is a must. However, a glass of fancy iced tea like Mama’s sweet mint tea is even better.
This is one of my mother’s favorite recipes that I first posted in 2008, the year I started blogging. At the time, I had grown up seeing a jug of what we dubbed “swamp water” in the fridge on a regular basis and always turned my nose up at it. I was still not a fan even when I posted this recipe some 10 years ago. But, if we’re lucky, childhood aversions eventually give way to adult wisdom. Yep, I am not too proud to say that I have changed my ways and unsurprisingly, I now enjoy this delicious fruity mint tea almost as much as my mother does.
So with that in mind, I’m sharing the homemade iced tea recipe again with updated photos to show you firsthand just how pretty it is. Get your taste buds ready for a delicious iced drink sure to chase away the drudgery in the midst of a super hot summer’s day.
To make this easy iced mint tea recipe, you need 5 ingredients: tea bags, lemon juice, orange juice concentrate, sugar, and fresh mint. You simply steep the tea and fresh mint and add it to a pitcher alongside our list of sweeteners. Then stir, refrigerate, and serve it to your family and friends. This lemon mint iced tea is so easy to make and tastes so good!
Recipe Ingredients
- Green tea bags or black tea bags
- Fresh or bottled lemon juice
- Frozen orange juice concentrate
- Sugar
- Fresh mint leaves (or dried mint leaves in a pinch)
How To Make Iced Mint Tea
In a pot, bring to a boil the tea bags, mint, and enough water to cover it well.
Remove from heat and let this steep, covered, for 30 minutes.
Put approximately 1 quart of cold water in a 1-gallon pitcher and add orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, and sugar (if using regular tea bags).
Remove mint leaves and tea bags from the tea and add this to the pitcher. Add enough water to make one gallon, stir, and refrigerate.
Enjoy at will! P.S It somehow tastes even better in a darling cup.
I love these mason jar cups and these cups with the cute straw and lid!
Storage
Mint iced tea keeps well in the fridge for up to a week.
Recipe Notes
For lime mint tea, substitute the lemon juice for bottled or fresh lime juice or you can always shake in a little Tru Lime!
Recipe FAQs
Do I just use a regular tea bag?
My mother has a brilliant hack that she uses to cut the calories. Instead of using a regular teabag and sugar, she uses Southern Breeze tea that is presweetened (no calories). If you do the same, use 4 family-size tea bags and omit the sugar. This is for one gallon of tea, just as in the recipe above. A family-size tea bag equals two regular-size tea bags.
You may also like these summer drink recipes:
Old-Fashioned Lemonade
Tropical Pink Mocktail (Fun Fruity Summer Drink)
Watermelonade Recipe
Sugar-Free Peach Lemonade (2 Ingredients Only)
Vintage Iced Tea Punch
How to Make Cold Brew at Home
Iced Mint Tea
My Mama's iced mint tea recipe includes tea bags and fresh mint sweetened with lemon juice, orange juice concentrate, and sugar.
Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: iced tea, tea
Servings: 4
Calories: 1kcal
Ingredients
- 8 regular-size tea bags or 4 family-size tea bags*
- 8 tbsp bottled lemon juice or juice of 4 fresh lemons
- 12 ounces frozen pulp-free orange juice concentrate
- 2 cups sugar
- handful of fresh mint or 2 tablespoons dried mint
Instructions
In a pot, bring to a boil the tea bags, mint, and enough water to cover them well. Remove from the heat and let them steep, covered, for 30 minutes.
8 regular-size tea bags or 4 family-size tea bags*, handful of fresh mint or 2 tablespoons dried mint
Put approx. 1 quart of water in a one-gallon pitcher and add the orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, and sugar.
8 tbsp bottled lemon juice or juice of 4 fresh lemons, 12 ounces frozen pulp-free orange juice concentrate, 2 cups sugar
Remove mint leaves and tea bags from the tea and add this to the pitcher. Add enough water to make one gallon, stir, and refrigerate.
Notes
*If using Southern Breeze tea: Use 4 family-size tea bags and omit the sugar. This is for one gallon of tea, just as in the recipe above. A family-size tea bag equals two regular-size tea bags.
Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal
Silence is a source of great strength.
~Tzu
FAQs
Tea, mint, sugar, orange and lemon juices make this a quick and easy, refreshingly delicious drink on a hot summer's day, given to me by a true Southern lady. Goes great with Cajun or spicy foods too.
How do you make mint tea taste better? ›
Here are some tips:
- Adjust the amount: Mint leaves can have a strong flavor, and using too much of it can overpower the tea. Start by using a smaller quantity of mint leaves and gradually increase it until you find the desired taste.
- Steep properly: Steeping time can affect the flavor of the tea.
But brewing your tea in chilled water releases less of those bitter tannins resulting in a fresh, clean infusion. Using a jug or pitcher, add the Peppermint tea and pour over the room temperature water. Place in the fridge for 1 – 2 hours (all depends on how strong you like your tea).
How much mint do I need for a gallon of tea? ›
Stove Top Mint Iced Tea:
I use about a cup of fresh mint leaves placed in coffee filters and secured with a rubber band. Bring a gallon of water to a boil, then add the mint, cover, and steep for at least 15 minutes. I like to squeeze or press the mint leaves in the filter to get them to release the most flavor.
What is the difference between spearmint tea and mint tea? ›
However, there are some key differences between them. Menthol: Both spearmint and peppermint contain menthol, but spearmint has 0.5 percent menthol while peppermint has forty percent menthol, giving peppermint its signature numbing flavor. Taste: Spearmint has a subtler, lighter flavor, vaguely sweet flavor.
What kind of mint is best for mint tea? ›
Peppermint or spearmint are classic choices, but other varieties will work just as well. You can even use a mixture of them. While you can use dried mint for tea, it doesn't compare to the flavor of fresh herbs. Serve it hot or iced, sweetened or unsweetened, and with or without lemon.
What happens to your body when you drink mint tea everyday? ›
Sipping on mint tea may offer digestive benefits, in part because of its menthol. This organic compound may have antispasmodic effects, meaning that it helps relax the muscles of the GI tract and facilitates a smoother and faster transit of food through your digestive system.
How do you make mint tea not bitter? ›
In a large measuring glass, pour 4 cups of boiling water over the prepared mint leaves and tea bags. Steep for 20 minutes. If leaves are steeped too long, the tea will become bitter. In a pitcher strain and discard leaves.
Do honey and mint go together? ›
The mint adds such a bright and fresh taste to the honey…and the flavor is amazing. Begin with two clean pint sized mason jars.
Can you drink too much fresh mint tea? ›
The menthol in peppermint can cause adverse side effects in large amounts. While it's difficult to consume too much menthol by drinking peppermint tea, it's not recommended for people with certain health conditions. Peppermint can help with digestion and stomach pain but can worsen acid reflux.
Relieves respiratory issues: Mint tea can help open up the airways and provide relief from respiratory issues like congestion, coughs, and colds. It may have mild decongestant properties that can ease nasal congestion and soothe sore throats.
Do you add anything to mint tea? ›
Feel free to add sweetener or citrus too if you'd like. It's just about the easiest thing ever. Simply steep some fresh mint leaves in hot water for about 5 minutes, strain them out, stir in any extra sweetener if you'd like, and serve hot or over ice.
How do you store mint leaves for tea? ›
The best way to store mint is in the fridge where it will stay nice and cool. This is the case for many herbs! If your mint is in it's full form, leaves and stems in-tact, you can store it upright in a glass or plastic container. Add 1/2 an inch of water at the bottom the container to so the cut stems are able to soak.
How long do you brew mint tea? ›
For herbal mint tea like peppermint or spearmint, a steeping time of 3 to 5 minutes is recommended. If you're brewing green mint tea, aim for a shorter steep of 2 to 3 minutes. For black mint tea, a slightly longer steeping period of 3 to 5 minutes is ideal.
Does mint tea count as water intake? ›
Daily fluid intake
The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.
What Flavours compliment mint? ›
Apricot, avocado, beetroot, blackberry, canary melon, cauliflower, celeriac, coconut, cranberry, fava bean, fig, garlic, grape, grapefruit, green bean, honeydew, kiwi, lettuce, lime, lychee, mango, mulberry, nectarine, orange, papaya, parsnip, plum, pomegranate, rambutan, raspberry, rhubarb, rockmelon, strawberry, ...
What does mint taste good with? ›
With its refreshing and fragrant flavor, mint is a welcome addition to both sweet and savory dishes. We love it smashed with fava beans and pecorino to top toast, whizzed into a minty pesto as a perfect accompaniment to lamb, and tossed into a cooling watermelon salad with lime for a summer dessert.
Can I add milk to my mint tea? ›
Sure. I don't like overdoing it with milk, but instead of ⅓ cup of milk, you can add ½ cup of milk if you wish. The more milk you add, you may also want to increase the number of loose tea leaves slightly.
What fruit goes well with peppermint tea? ›
Peppermint Tea and Apple
The strong minty flavour of peppermint tea might be a little intense for certain diners. To help achieve a more delicate flavour balance, try adding apple to the mix. The sweet and cooling fruit with its sour and bitter hints makes for a good complement to peppermint tea.
