Healthy Sweet Tea Recipes for Summer

There’s nothing better than a cool glass of sweet tea in the summer… unless it’s a cool glass of sweet tea that you made yourself.

And there’s nothing better than drinking a cool glass of sweet tea that you made yourself… unless it’s a cool glass of delicious homemade sweet tea that also happens to be healthy.

Whether you want a go-to healthy sweet tea recipes for summer so that you can sip a glass in peace on your porch or you want to impress your guests at your next barbecue, here are some healthy sweet tea recipes for summer you can’t go wrong with.

Healthy Sweet Tea Recipes for Summer

Basic Sweet Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• ¾ cup organic, raw honey (local if possible).
• 2 bags (or two scoops) of your favorite iced tea.
• 1 gallon cold, filtered water.
• Fresh lemon.

Instructions

1. Bring a half gallon of cold, unfiltered water to a boil. Once it is boiling, remove it from heat.
2. Steep tea bags for 5 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags.
4. Add raw honey (more or less to taste) and stir.
5. Pour into pitcher.
6. Pour the other half gallon of cold water into pitcher and briefly stir.
7. Put pitcher in refrigerator.
8. Serve chilled with optional ice cubes and a lemon slice garnish.

Southern Style Sweet Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ gallon (8 cups) chilled water.
• 6 green tea bags.
• ½ cup raw honey or maple syrup.
• 1 lemon, sliced.
• 8 fresh mint leaves (more for garnish optional).

Instructions

1. Bring 2 of the cups of water to the point of steaming on the stovetop.
2. Once steaming, remove from heat and add the green tea bags.
3. Steep tea bags for 8 minutes.
4. Remove tea bags and stir in honey or maple syrup. Stir until combined.
5. Pour remaining 6 cups of water into pitcher.
6. Pour tea into pitcher. Stir water and tea together.
7. Add sliced lemons and mint leaves to the pitcher. 
8. Serve chilled over ice and enjoy!

Tips 

No matter which recipe you prefer, there are just a three things it’s always good to have on hand so that you can make healthy sweet tea anytime:

• Your preferred tea (bags, packs, or scoops).
• A gallon pitcher (glass is best, but not necessary).
• Healthy sweeteners .

The secret to keeping any sweet tea recipe healthy is to replace the sugar with a healthier, alternative sweetener. Your choices range from raw honey to Xylitol to Stevia to agave nectar to monk fruit syrup and much, much more. 

When you make your next batch of sweet tea, here are some healthier sweeteners to start with.

Organic Raw Honey from YS Organic Bee Farms

100% Certified Organic Raw Honey from Y.S. Organic Bee Farms is harvested with extreme care, 100% pure, natural, unpasteurized and unfiltered and is fresh from healthy beehives. Besides being delicious, organic, raw honey is also a functional food with the highest possible levels of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healing agents.

Better Stevia Liquid Sweetener: Lemon Twist from NOW Foods

Liquid Stevia Extract: Lemon Twist from NOW Foods is a low glycemic, zero calorie healthy sugar substitute that features a great liquid stevia flavor from pure stevia extract. Not only that, but with a lemon twist, it’s the perfect sweet-tart combination to give your sweet tea another layer of delicious flavor.

If you prefer your stevia without lemon, try NOW Foods’ unflavored Better Stevia Organic Liquid Sweetener. 

Sure Stevia Plus Monk Fruit Powder from Kal

If you’ve been wanting to branch out a little from stevia, or if you’re curious about monk fruit sweetener, Sure Stevia Plus Monk Fruit Powder from Kal is the ideal compromise. This zero calorie sugar alternative comes in convenient single serving packets, so you can use them in your sweet tea at home, or bring a few on the go.

What are your go-to healthy sweet tea recipes for summer?