Brewing your own iced tea is easier than you could imagine. Use summertime fruit, such as blackberries, to make a low sugar, healthier version.
It wasn’t until the Snapple phenomenon hit when I was in high school that I actually started to appreciate iced tea. Before that, iced tea was something that the adults drank while sitting on the patio, nibbling on their egg salad sandwiches and shooting the breeze about current affairs or the upcoming hockey season (hey, this is Canada we’re talking about!)
Now you can by iced tea in every imaginable flavor…peach, raspberry, mango and so on. The problem is that most store-bought varieties are loaded with sugar. Or even worse, loaded with high fructose corn syrup. Of course, there are now brands coming on the market that use more natural sweeteners and contain all organic ingredients. But why not try your hand at your own concoction?
With fresh berries, peaches and cherries filling the farm stands throughout the summertime, it’s easy to make your own iced tea, with just the right amount of sweetness to suit your tastebuds. I used maple syrup to sweeten this blackberry version, but honey or agave nectar would be good substitutes.
And don’t let the “blackberry” in the title limit you. Use whatever berries or stone fruits that are available and strike your fancy. For fruits such as peaches or nectarines, be sure to remove the skin (and the pit!) before pureeing the fruit (see my post on How to: Peel a Peach).
As for the tea, you could use black tea (I used my favorite Earl Grey tea bag
), green tea, white tea or herbal tea, depending on the flavor and level of caffeine you prefer.
Other recipes with summertime fruit:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Strawberry, Brie Cheese, Honey & Basil Crostini
Cookin’ Canuck’s Watermelon & Blueberry Mojito Salad
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I’ll be sure to find it.
Blackberry Maple Iced Tea Recipe
Brewing your own iced tea is easier than you could imagine. Use summertime fruit, such as blackberries, to make a low sugar, healthier version.
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 5 black tea bags, such as Earl Grey
- 12 oz. blackberries, plus more for garnishing
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, or more to taste
- Ice
- Mint, for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- Puree the blackberries in a food processor or blender.
- Pour the blackberries mixture through a strainer into a large pitcher. Add the tea and maple syrup to the blackberry mixture, and stir to combine. Taste and add more maple syrup, if desired.
- Refrigerate until cold, 1 to 2 hours.
- Serve the iced tea over ice. Garnish with fresh blackberries and mint.
Recipe Notes
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Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Jun 29, 2015 at 7:02 amJust my kind of (non-alcoholic… ok, and alcoholic… drink! Light, refreshing and subtly sweet.
Carolyn says
Jun 29, 2015 at 7:45 amLove your version of a healthy Snapple alternative. I remember that craze too!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Jun 29, 2015 at 9:17 amI too was a Snapple addict 🙂 This is a much better alternative that my 30-year-old-ish self can handle!
kellie | The Suburban Soapbox says
Jun 29, 2015 at 10:26 amGorgeous photos! I was always a fan of iced tea growing up, I was that kid that sat on the porch with the adults sipping on tea and eating egg salad sandwiches. 🙂
Paula-bell'alimento says
Jun 29, 2015 at 11:12 amDara that looks so refreshing! I’m about to cut the grass and I wish I had a pitcher of this waiting on me afterwards ; )
Alison Lewis says
Jun 29, 2015 at 12:16 pmSounds amazing! It’s SO hot here and that is beautiful!
Lizthechef says
Jun 29, 2015 at 1:18 pmBeautiful colors – perfect for the 4th! And the rest of summer…
Stephanie says
Jun 29, 2015 at 1:28 pmAhhh, I remember Snapple! I drink iced tea almost everyday – I will have to try this version soon! Sounds amazing!
Martha @ A Family Feast says
Jun 29, 2015 at 1:40 pmThis sounds wonderfully refreshing – and it’s gorgeous too!
Happy Valley Chow says
Jun 29, 2015 at 3:31 pmThis drink looks and sounds sooo refreshing. Perfect summer drink 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Deanna Segrave-Daly says
Jun 29, 2015 at 5:35 pmI can only imaging how lovely this tastes based on the photo alone!
Ginny McMeans says
Jun 29, 2015 at 5:41 pmOh my gosh, I could slurp that down right now. All those beautiful flavors.
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
Jun 29, 2015 at 6:36 pmI love the idea of fresh fruit in summer ice tea – gorgeous!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
Jun 29, 2015 at 6:56 pmI love making fresh berry teas, but have never used maple syrup for sweetener. Now I must try it! Beautiful iced tea, Dara.
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
Jun 29, 2015 at 11:30 pmMy parents had that powdered Lipton’s stuff growing up and that’s my experience with iced tea. It’s time I try something like this! It sounds so much better. Gorgeous pictures, too!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
Jun 30, 2015 at 6:58 amLove the touch of maple syrup in this for sweetner, and the color is marvelous!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Jun 30, 2015 at 7:34 amWe love brewing our own tea at home! Normally I’m a sweet tea or peach tea kinda gal but I love all things “blackberry” so I know this is gonna be a winner!
Isabelle @ Crumb says
Jun 30, 2015 at 8:29 amI tend to keep a pitcher of iced tea in the fridge all summer long. The flavours tend to change depending on what I’m fancying on that particular day… right now it’s mint and citrus, but I’m loving the combination of Earl Grey with blackberries and maple that you’ve got going here. I think I know what’s going into my next pitcher of tea! 🙂
Sara says
Jun 30, 2015 at 3:59 pmWill be trying this soon, thanks for sharing!
angela@spinachtiger says
Jul 1, 2015 at 6:08 pmThe taste and look of this would make any summer table complete.
Anita - Neetzy.com says
Feb 13, 2016 at 12:01 pmLove the addition of maple syrup – very Canadian.