From Carrie’s Garden: Mint Iced Tea

May 7, 2020

Ahhh…Warmer weather means it’s time to break out the iced tea! Sorry to those in the south, this iced tea is going to be unsweetened. But that doesn’t mean it’s not going to have flavor! This iced tea will be flavored with fresh mint leaves straight from the garden.

When I was younger, I remember my aunt always had fresh mint on hand. I always looked forward to her making mint tea for special occasions. It’s from her that I learned how to make this delicious unsweetened mint iced tea.

Did you know the mint plant comes in over 30 different varieties?! If you are interested in growing it in your garden, look for either peppermint or spearmint. But is there a difference between the two? Yes! According to Reluctant Gourmet, peppermint contains 40% menthol giving it a much stronger minty flavor than spearmint which contains less than 1% menthol.

Mint actually grows very easily. A word of caution… Mint plants spread like CRAZY! Now I’m far from calling myself a horticulturist. However, from my experience, I highly recommend planting it in a container to keep it from taking over the yard. For more information on how to care for your mint plant, check out this article from Bonnie Plants.

Mint Iced Tea

A refreshing, minty unsweet iced tea that's perfect for basking in the afternoon sun.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 10

Equipment

  • 2 Quart pitcher
  • 4 cup glass liquid measuring cup

Ingredients
  

  • 10-12 large leaves fresh mint washed
  • 2 large black tea bags I used Lipton's family size tea bags

Instructions
 

  • Prepare mint leaves by pulling them off of the stems. Be sure they have been rinsed with water.
  • Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
  • Add the mint leaves and steep the tea bags in the hot water for 3-5 minutes.
  • Remove the tea bags once steeped and pour the tea and leaves into the pitcher.
  • Add 4 more cups of water to the pitcher and keep refrigerated.
  • Serve in a full glass of ice and garnish with additional mint leaves.
Keyword Iced Tea, Mint, Tea

Now that you have your mint tea in hand, kick back and relax in the afternoon sun. Enjoy your ice cold minty refreshment and don’t forget the sunscreen!

Want to grow your own mint for tea all summer long? Make sure you have all of the essentials you need for your garden!