Perfectly sweet ‘n’ tangy and loaded with tropical fruit flavor, this easy iced tea is the ultimate summer thirst quencher!
Iced tea. Love it or hate it? From what I’ve gathered, most people I’ve met are either tea drinkers or coffee drinkers.
Me? I’m a coffee ‘gal all the way and generally don’t even bother with tea.
Until I met TROPICAL tea. In iced form of course, because I can’t really stomach warm liquids on a 90° summer day. Who does?
I have no idea how my mom can drink 3 cups of boiling-hot coffee every morning. Urghh…ICED all the way for me, please and thank you.
So this iced tea was born because of the fact that my mom got an out-of-the-blue craving for iced tea the other day and begged me to make some for her.
Now that’s just weird. My mom is coffee-aholic so why the heck would she be craving iced tea?!
I’m a nice daughter though, so I didn’t question her and got right to work making her some tea.
I was half-inclined to just dump a few tea bags in some water, sweeten it and call myself an awesome daughter; but at the same time I was CRAVING something really tropical and fruity.
Sooo…I combined ’em both.
Bam. Best iced tea in the WORLD is invented.
In less than 15 minutes too. Yep, that feels pretty good. 😀
To me, this iced tea tasted like a bang-up combo of fruit punch and classic iced tea. It’s not TOO sweet, but perfectly tangy and balanced with the perfect spot-on tropical flavors of pineapple, orange, and lemon juice.
Party in a glass, I like to call it. 😀
And the color is just so appetizing NOBODY will be able to resist a glassful ‘a this stuff.
This iced tea is so perfectly cold and refreshing it would the PERFECT sipper to pack in a thermos and take along to a summer picnic or cook-out. INSTANT cool-down/energy boost that we all need on these warm summer days.
You will always come home with an empty thermos, though. I promise. 😉
Confession: I had originally made this iced tea last Thursday to serve at our 4th of July barbecue on Friday, but ended up having to make it AGAIN, because my my mom and I ended up guzzling down most of the first batch before Friday rolled around.
Hey, it’s SUMMER, guys so we’ve gotta stay hydrated! 🙂
It wasn’t really a problem either, seeing how this iced whips up SO fast. You just may end up having to make another batch, too. Peeps tend to gulp it all down in minutes flat.
Even if you’re NOT a fan of iced tea, I PROMISE you will fall in love with this tropical drink. And that’s coming from a bonafide iced-coffee lover. 😉
I really AM an awesome daughter and I’m pretty sure my mom felt the same way when I handed her an ice-cold glass of this fruity iced tea.
Then obviously I poured myself a glass and joined her. 😀
Ahhhh…sweet summer.
Tropical Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 6 cups cold water
- 2 family-sized tea bags cold-brew
- 1-2/3 cups pineapple juice
- Juice from 1 large lemon
- Juice from 1 large orange
- 1/2 cup xylitol or sugar
Instructions
- Place water and tea bags in a large pitcher. Let sit 10 minutes.
- Place pineapple juice, lemon juice, orange juice, and xylitol (or sugar) in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until xylitol is dissolved. Remove from heat and add to tea/water mixture. Stir to combine. Remove tea bags and chill tea until ready to serve.
Notes
You’ll love my other summer sippers!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
I am actually both a coffee drinker and a tea drinker. And this iced tea sounds just right. So refreshing.
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
I’ll take iced tea almost any way you give it to me but this one looks really yummy!
Have a marvelous day!
Sarah says
Thanks, Melanie! You have an awesome day as well! 🙂
[email protected] says
What a refreshing drink! It would disappear in a flash at our house. Love the tropical flavors. Have a wonderful Monday 🙂
Sarah says
Oh, this tea always vanishes SO fast around here. My fam loves it. 😉
[email protected] TheGastronomicBong says
WOW.. Amazing flavours… I can gulp down 2 glasses of this chilled iced tea right away…. so good.. so refreshing.. 😀
Sarah says
I can do the same thing, Arpita! 😉 So, so good.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I am just like you, and LOVE iced tea! I have a glass every day with lunch. It’s the perfect amount of caffeine to get me thru the rest of the day. Coffee makes me too jittery. I love this tropical version! Can’t wait to give it a try : )
Sarah says
Coffee has the same effect on me in the afternoon, so this iced tea is the PERFECT substitute. You’ve gotta try this tea, Natalie! You would love it. 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
You’re right, this color is sooo pretty! Orange is just a summer, tropical color 🙂 Yum!
Sarah says
It definitely looks just as delicious as it tastes! Thanks, Medha! 🙂
Kelly @ The Pretty Bee: Cooking + Creating says
This looks really refreshing, Sarah! Yum!
Sarah says
Thanks, Kelly! 🙂
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
Haha I agree, with do have to stay hydrated! This is the perfect hydration – and LOVE the tropical style of the iced tea Sarah!
Sarah says
YES. This is the absolute perfect way to stay hydrated. LOL. Thanks, girl! 😉
Rachael | Spache the Spatula says
This is freaking perfect, Sarah! I want to drink tis all Summer long! Annnnd maybe add in some rum 😉
P.S.—just got an email saying your copy of the Flavor Bible has finally shipped!
Sarah says
I’m totally on board with sneaking some rum into this iced tea. Um, YUM!
Oh,and thanks for letting me know, Rachael! I can’t wait to get my hands on that book! 🙂
Kelly says
I love iced tea and this one looks so refreshing! I love the tropical flavors you added too – a big jug of this sounds like the perfect drink to cool down with!
Sarah says
It’s the perfect cool-down, Kelly! You may just end up drinking the entire batch in one day! LOL.
Danielle says
I love tea, I just can’t do coffee it always upsets my stomach for some reason. But tea.. now I can drink that! I’m from the South too, so it’s mandatory. I love the tropical twist on this one!
Sarah says
Oooh, you Southerners do like your iced tea don’t you! You would love this tropical version, Danielle! 😉
[email protected] Well Floured Kitchen says
haha, I’m writing this as a sip my steaming hot coffee this morning- the hotter the better! However it doesn’t get steamy hot in the mornings here. But by afternoon- I am totally ready for something iced! Love the tropical twist on this tea, looks super refreshing 🙂
Sarah says
I’m fine with hot coffee as long as it’s semi-cool outside, but after that iced all the way! 😉 Thanks, Sherri!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
Love love love making iced tea and do it all the time! I’m really digging this tropical version. Looks super easy and I already have the ingredients. 🙂
Sarah says
Yea! You should definitely make this iced tea as soon as possible then, Tina! 😀
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
So refreshing, Sarah. I don’t drink coffee so tea is always my option. It is summer so iced tea tastes even better. Thanks for sharing 😉
Sarah says
This tea sounds perfect for you, Olivia! And I love how we’re both on icy-cold drink kicks this week. 😀
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
You can’t beat ice tea – especially when it is as warm as it is at the moment.
Sarah says
I know right? The heat is evil, but the good news is that we have iced tea to make it better! LOL. 😉
Isadora @ she likes food says
I’m from the south where everyone drinks sweet tea, which I happen to hate, but I love the regular iced tea. I love all the tropical flavors you added to this! I think I need to sit outside with a huge glass of this tea and pretend that I’m on a tropical beach!
Sarah says
I don’t really enjoy sweet tea either—it’s basically just sugar water with a little flavoring. Yuck! And YES. This tea takes you to that tropical happy place that we all love. 😀
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
I love iced tea, but this tropical version is so much more exciting and delicious! Love the flavours, pineapple definitely is my ultimate summer fruit! 🙂
Sarah says
Pineapple is one of my summer favs too, Jess! Thanks, girlfriend! 🙂
Joanne says
I’m a hot coffee and iced tea gal. And I have to admit I’m drinking hot coffee right now even though it’s a million degrees outside. Thank god for air conditioning!
But iced tea also sounds so refreshing, especially when it’s filled with all these exotic flavors! 😛
Sarah says
Haha! AC does make quite the difference doesn’t it! Thanks Joanne! 😉
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
I just pinned this gorgeous looking iced tea! Cold tea is my go to favorite drink in the Summer so I love this tropical spin to it!
Sarah says
Thanks so much for pinning, Pamela! Sounds like this tea is RIGHT up your alley! 😉
Lori says
Hey, what a wonderful looking Iced Tea this is. From the ingredients, I imagine very tasty as well.
Sarah says
Thanks, Lori!