Hey PBJ’s! I’m back with a refreshing summer favorite: Raspberry Iced Tea. I’ve been making small changes toward a healthier lifestyle, and while this iced tea is still sweet, it’s a much better choice than acidic soda—which I swapped out months ago.
I love tea—hot or cold—and raspberry is one of my top flavors (strawberry is a close second). With summer here, I promised to share more beverages and desserts, so here’s my easy raspberry iced tea recipe.
Late night Wawa Runs
I’m a night owl and have battled insomnia for years, so late-night snacks and drinks became routine. If you’re not from the Philly area, Wawa is a beloved convenience store that sells everything from sandwiches to snacks and drinks. Back around 2020, my friend Tina would stay over so often people thought she moved in. When we went to Wawa, I always ordered raspberry tea. It became so obvious that Tina would pick one up for me without asking.
The raspberry adds a bright, fruity note to black tea that I can’t resist—whether I’m sipping it late at night or enjoying it with dinner.
Outback with Lorretta
My aunt Lorretta and I often go out to our favorite restaurants like Olive Garden, Miller’s Ale, Texas Steakhouse, and Outback. On restaurant nights I usually order raspberry tea with lemon. Once, while I was in the bathroom at Outback, Lorretta ordered for me and knew exactly to get my raspberry tea—proof my love for it is well known!
Recipe Ingredients:
- Black tea bags (Lipton or another black tea): Black tea provides a neutral base that pairs perfectly with raspberry. Avoid green, hibiscus, or strongly flavored teas.
- Fresh raspberries: Use fresh raspberries for the best flavor—Driscoll’s is my favorite.
- Lemon (optional): Adds brightness, but is optional if you prefer without.
- Spring water: Use a clean bottled spring water for best results.
- Sugar: White sugar to taste. Start conservative and add more until it reaches your preferred sweetness.
Add-Ins:
These are optional but make the pitcher look and taste great.
- Fresh raspberries: about 1/4 cup or a handful for the pitcher.
- Fresh mint leaves: 4–5 leaves to add a subtle herbal note.
Cleaning the fruit
Raspberries are delicate and need a gentle rinse. Place them in a bowl, cover with cool water, swirl them gently with your hands, then pour out the water. Avoid harsh cleaners or baking soda rinses that can leave residue or damage the berries.
How to make Raspberry iced tea
- Fill a large pot with 3 quarts of water and add the black tea bags.
- Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, about 10–12 minutes, then remove from heat and let the bags steep for additional strength if desired.
- While the tea cooks, blend 1 quart of water with the raspberries for about 30 seconds until smooth.
- Pour the raspberry purée into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil for about 8 minutes, skimming any foam as it cooks.
- When the raspberry liquid clears, strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and discard the seeds.
- Combine the brewed tea and strained raspberry juice in a large pitcher.
- Add sugar to taste and stir until dissolved.
- Slice a lemon, remove seeds, and add the lemon juice if using.
- For garnish and extra flavor, add 1/4 cup fresh raspberries and 4–5 mint leaves to the pitcher.
- Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, preferably several hours.
Tips for best results:
- Let the tea bags steep: Leaving the tea bags in while the liquid cools yields a stronger flavor.
- Make ahead: This tea tastes best after chilling for several hours or overnight so the flavors can meld.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you have to add fresh raspberries? No, but they enhance appearance and flavor over time as they infuse the drink.
- How to scale for a crowd? Double the ingredients and make the recipe in batches if needed. Use larger containers and expect slightly longer heating times.
Equipment
Basic kitchen tools make this easy: a blender, large mixing bowl, medium saucepan, fine strainer, knife, and a pitcher or large container to chill the tea.
That’s it for now! If you try the recipe, leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. Enjoy and stay cool this summer—PBJ~
Enjoy, later!
PBJ~
