You already know the many benefits of drinking herbal tea. Enjoying them on ice is a great way to reap the health benefits and beat the heat, too! Here are 10 common herbs to use in your iced teas all summer long.
Many of these herbs can be found at local farmer’s markets or well-stocked grocery stores. Better yet, plant a few of your favorites and you will soon be sipping your own home-grown blends. Maybe you have a few growing in your garden already!
Each one of these herbs makes a wonderful hot drink, too.
Mint
One of my all-time favorite herbs for tea, mint has a cool refreshing taste. It’s just perfect for after-meal sipping. Mint is incredibly easy to grow (make sure it doesn’t take over your garden! ) and comes in so many different varieties. Mint promotes digestion and is a natural stimulant, the perfect pick-me-up on a sluggish summer day.
Lemon Balm
If you love a little lemon in your iced tea, this is the perfect herb for you! This member of the mint family is just as easy to grow (and will also happily take over your garden!). It is full of antioxidants, can soothe an upset stomach, and helps ease stress and anxiety. Sometimes I will just throw a few handfuls in a pitcher of water to make a lemon-infused water like this one.
Borage
Borage’s flavor is refreshingly reminiscent of cucumber. It also has many health benefits and is wonderful mixed with lemonade.
Chamomile
Probably best known as a calming night-time tea, chamomile also makes a wonderful iced tea, and is particularly nice when mixed with mint.
Lemon Verbena
Another lemon-y favorite, and also an aid to digestion and a pick-me-up that fights stress and fatigue.
Basil
Not the first herb you think of when it comes to tea, but one worth trying! Basil is another herb that aids in digestion and is also an immune-system booster. No summer colds here!
Lemongrass
Another one of my favorites! It has a beautiful fresh lemony flavour. As with the other lemon herbs, it is great for digestion and the nervous system.
Ginger
A zippy ginger tea can be wonderfully refreshing on a hot day. It is also lovely paired with any of the lemony herbs. Ginger is full of healthful and healing properties, strengthening the immune system and even easing the pain of sore muscles, which may be just what you need after a day out working in the sun.
Lavender
A soothing tea to sip at the end of a long hot day. Mix it with chamomile and you might find yourself falling asleep under the stars.
Raspberry Leaf
Much has been written about the benefits of raspberry leaf, especially for women. With a tea-like taste, this is a great caffeine-free substitute if you are craving a cool glass of old-fashioned iced tea.
Simple Brewing Instructions
There are many ways to brew herbal iced tea. To keep things simple, I brew a pot of very strong hot tea, then pour it into a pitcher with cold water and/or ice, and chill until ready to serve. For a pretty presentation, garnish with lemon, cucumber, fruit, edible flowers, or fresh herb leaves.
What are your favorite herbs for summer-time teas?
Want more info on growing herbs? Visit our Spotlight on Herbs series or other herb-related articles.
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Lemon Balm, my invasive little garden friend but also my favorite tea! A sprig got loose one day and found the perfect spot to grow at my in ground bird bath. Do think twice before planting mint or Lemon Balm into your garden and if you keep them in pots put the pots on something solid, they will run from roots growing out of the bottom.
Good advice Sheri! I planted lemon balm in my garden before I knew what I was getting into and we soon found it everywhere, growing in the garden paths and even the lawn. Pots are definitely the best spot for these lovelies!
Hibiscus! My favorite! Tangy-tart, pretty, and delicious! And it helps lower blood pressure.
Hibiscus is not something I have in my own garden but it sounds wonderful!
I love herbal ice tea!
Hemp and pot leaf tea is next
I tried all of these delightful herbal drinks! Oregon grape is a great one too. So many herbs you can play with 🙂
I was just diengouse with ic told i cant have any caffine is this tea free from caffine
Hi, Misty,
All the herbs listed in this post are caffeine free. 🙂
~Peggy, TCS Customer Success Team
Pardon the seemingly silly question, but how do you “brew a pot of very strong hot tea”? How many leaves of the herb do you gather and do you put that in your tea kettle while it’s boiling? I drink herbal tea every morning, but I only use tea bags, so I’m not familiar with this technique. 🙂 TIA!
Hi Kara,
Wardee does 1 rounded T of herbs per quart of water. Steep for at least 15 min. Can go longer if desired. And stronger if desired. This does vary slightly by the herb so you’ll want to play around to get it just right. 🙂
Hope this helps!
~ Millie, TCS Customer Success Team
Every time I make herbal tea, it seems so weak. I have drank black iced tea my whole life, herbal teas do not seem to have the flavor black teas do. I follow directions, any suggestions?
Thanks
Hi, Peggy,
Herbal teas tend to lose their potency over time, especially if they are exposed to heat and light. Use the freshest herbal tea possible. As you steep your tea placing lid over it while it steeps also may help. For a stronger flavor, I would double the herb to see if that helps but typically herbal teas are not as strong as black tea. 🙂
~Peggy, TCS Customer Success Team