Brewing your own refreshing iced blackberry tea is easier than you could imagine. Use fresh or frozen fruit, plus maple syrup to make a lower sugar version.
Blackberry tea is the perfect cold drink to help you cool off on a hot day! Plump fresh berries, your favorite black tea (I like Earl Grey or Lady Grey) and a drizzle of maple syrup are the keys to a fruity, slightly sweet summertime drink recipe.
I keep a pitcher of this blackberry iced tea in the fridge, minus the ice. My kids and husband love it! All they have to do is grab a glass of ice and pour the tea over top.
If you’re looking for more ways to use up a bounty of summer berries, try my Lemon Blueberry Pancakes, Blueberry Goat Cheese Crostini (appetizer or dessert!) or my family’s favorite Raspberry Swirl Frozen Yogurt Pie.
Ingredients for Blackberry Tea:
- BLACKBERRIES: Use either fresh or frozen blackberries. If using frozen, defrost the berries before pureeing.
- TEA BAGS: I used Earl Grey tea, but other types of black tea, such as orange pekoe, can be used. For an herbal tea version, try Red or Lemon Zinger or hibiscus tea.
- WATER: Use cold water. If your tap water has a strong taste, I suggest using filtered water.
- SWEETENER: Pure maple syrup (not the corn syrup-based syrups) is my favorite way to sweeten iced tea. Agave nectar or honey are good alternatives. If you’re serving to someone that follows a vegan diet, note that honey is not vegan.
- ICE: To serve the tea.
- GARNISH: Optional garnishes are fresh blackberries and fresh mint sprigs.
See recipe card below for full ingredients list & recipe directions.
💙 What’s to love about blackberry iced tea:
▪️ REFRESHING: There’s nothing better than an iced cold glass of tea on a hot day! Keep a pitcher in the fridge so everyone can help themselves.
▪️ VERSATILE: Don’t have blackberries? Not to worry! Try blueberries, strawberries or even peaches.
▪️ EASY TO MAKE: This fruit tea is so simple to make. Steep the tea, puree the berries and stir it all together.
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How to make blackberry tea:
The instructions for making this berry tea are simple. But let’s talk details to make sure all your questions are answered…
STEEP THE TEA: Start by boiling the water in a medium saucepan. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the tea bags. Steep the tea for about 10 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags, and let the tea cool slightly.
PUREE THE BLACKBERRIES: Puree the whole blackberries in a food process or blender until smooth. A food processor does a better job without extra liquid.
STRAIN THE BERRIES: Set a fine mesh strainer or sieve over a bowl. Pour the puréed berries into the sieve. Using a rubber spatula, gently push the mixture through so that the liquid empties into the bowl. Discard the fibrous bits left in the sieve.
COMBINE: Pour the berry liquid into a large pitcher, along with the tea and maple syrup. Give it a stir to combine. Taste the mixture and add more maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter tea.
CHILL: Pop the pitcher into the fridge and cool the blackberry tea for at least an hour.
SERVE: Serve the iced tea in tall glasses with ice. If you like, garnish the glasses with fresh blackberries and mint leaves.
How long does iced tea with fruit last in the fridge?
Because this tea is made with fruit, I suggest consuming it within 48 hours. Store it in the fridge, with a layer of plastic wrap covering the opening of the pitcher.
How can I make this caffeine-free?
Instead of using a black tea such as Earl Grey, use a caffeine-free herbal tea. Red Zinger, Lemon Zinger or hibiscus teas are good options.
Can I use frozen fruit?
Yes, frozen blackberries can be used in this recipe. However, I suggest defrosting the fruit before puréeing it. Otherwise you will likely need to add liquid to the food processor or blender to properly purée the berries. Use the defrost setting on a microwave to defrost them quickly.
Substitutions:
Fruit: 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).
Try using my Blueberry Maple Syrup as a base for your iced tea.
Tea bags: Experiment with different types of black tea or herbal tea to change up the flavor.
Blackberry Iced Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 5 black tea bags such as Earl Grey
- 12 oz. blackberries plus more for garnishing
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup or more to taste
- ice
- mint for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 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 into a fine mesh strainer or sieve into a bowl. Using a rubber spatula to gently push the berries through the sieve. The liquid should pour into the bowl. Discard the fruit bits left in the sieve.
- Pour the berry liquid 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on June 29, 2015 and was updated on August 22, 2022.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
angela@spinachtiger
The taste and look of this would make any summer table complete.
Sara
Will be trying this soon, thanks for sharing!
Isabelle @ Crumb
I 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! 🙂
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
We 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!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
Love the touch of maple syrup in this for sweetner, and the color is marvelous!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
My 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!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
I love making fresh berry teas, but have never used maple syrup for sweetener. Now I must try it! Beautiful iced tea, Dara.
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I love the idea of fresh fruit in summer ice tea - gorgeous!
Ginny McMeans
Oh my gosh, I could slurp that down right now. All those beautiful flavors.
Deanna Segrave-Daly
I can only imaging how lovely this tastes based on the photo alone!
Happy Valley Chow
This drink looks and sounds sooo refreshing. Perfect summer drink 🙂
Martha @ A Family Feast
This sounds wonderfully refreshing - and it's gorgeous too!
Stephanie
Ahhh, I remember Snapple! I drink iced tea almost everyday - I will have to try this version soon! Sounds amazing!
Lizthechef
Beautiful colors - perfect for the 4th! And the rest of summer...
Alison Lewis
Sounds amazing! It's SO hot here and that is beautiful!
Paula-bell'alimento
Dara that looks so refreshing! I'm about to cut the grass and I wish I had a pitcher of this waiting on me afterwards ; )
kellie | The Suburban Soapbox
Gorgeous 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. 🙂
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
I too was a Snapple addict 🙂 This is a much better alternative that my 30-year-old-ish self can handle!
Carolyn
Love your version of a healthy Snapple alternative. I remember that craze too!
Brian @ A Thought For Food
Just my kind of (non-alcoholic... ok, and alcoholic... drink! Light, refreshing and subtly sweet.