Fresh and fruity Strawberry Basil Iced Tea is easy to make and tastes like tropical indulgence. It’s the perfect refresher on a hot summer’s day…or for me as I sit and watch the cold rain this morning, the perfect “I wish it was summer drink!”
Do you like the combination of fresh fruit with fresh basil? I first tried this combination while eating breakfast at a little boutique hotel called the Dreamcatcher in San Juan and immediately loved it.
If you like fruity teas, then you need to give this one a try! The basil gives this a very noticeable, but not overpowering twist. And it smells like absolute heaven, at least to me. My 11 year old gives this review, “Smells weird. Tastes good. Looks pretty.” 
I’ve made this tea with frozen sliced strawberries and with fresh strawberries. Either will work in this recipe. However, I recommend using fresh strawberries if at all possible. The flavor is just more fresh. And also if you use frozen strawberries, they don’t hold up as well to the heat when making the syrup, so you get a lot more pulp or sediment in the finished tea.
In my household we prefer Luzianne brand cold brew iced tea so that’s what I’ve used for this recipe. It doesn’t really matter so much whether you use cold brew or regular brew tea, just that you’re starting with 7.5 cups strong black tea.
Also, feel free to adjust the sugar to your preference!
If you love fruity drinks, you might also enjoy this Strawberry Lemonade Shandy, aka poor man’s champagne. 
Strawberry Basil Iced Tea
Enjoy the taste of summer with this refreshing and fruity Strawberry Basil Iced Tea.
Ingredients
- 7 1/2 cups water
- 2 family sized cold brew tea bags
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/2 cup loosely packed torn or chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/3 cup sugar
Instructions
Fill a pitcher with 7.5 cups water and place the cold brew tea bags in the water.
In a small sauce pan, add the remaining cup of water, sliced strawberries, basil, and sugar to make the strawberry basil syrup. Stir to combine.
Over medium heat, bring the mixture just to a full boil. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Remove the tea bags from the pitcher and using a fine mesh strainer, pour the strawberry basil syrup into the prepared tea. Stir to combine. Discard the cooked strawberries and basil leaves.
Serve over ice. Garnish with fresh sliced strawberries and basil leaves if desired.
Notes
Strawberry basil iced tea has the best flavor the day that it is made. However, it can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Alternately, the strawberry basil syrup can be made a day or two ahead of time and then added to the tea when you are ready to serve it.
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