Earl Grey Iced Tea with Honey is a bright, refreshing drink perfect for warm days and simple to prepare. Brew Earl Grey, stir in honey while warm, cool to room temperature, then serve over ice for a crisp, citrus-scented iced tea.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Homemade iced tea tastes fresher and cleaner than most store-bought varieties. Earl Grey brings a pleasant bergamot citrus note that feels light and refreshing. Making it at home lets you control the sweetness and strength — make it lightly sweetened, more pronounced, or leave it unsweetened to suit your preference.
It’s also incredibly easy: brew a pitcher, chill, and you’ve got ready-to-serve iced tea for the week. This recipe is ideal for backyard gatherings, picnics, or everyday refreshment.
Earl Grey Iced Tea Ingredients
- Water: 6 cups of filtered water.
- Earl Grey Tea: 4 Earl Grey tea bags (regular or decaffeinated).
- Honey: 3 teaspoons, or to taste. Substitute sugar, simple syrup, or a preferred sweetener if desired.
- Ice: For serving.
- Lemon Wedges and Mint Leaves: Optional garnishes for serving.
The precise ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card below.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Bring 6 cups of filtered water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat once boiling.
- Stir 3 teaspoons of honey (or desired sweetener) into the hot water until dissolved. Add 4 Earl Grey tea bags and steep for about 15 minutes for a full-flavored brew. Remove and discard the tea bags.
- Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a pitcher or carafe. Chill in the refrigerator until cold.
- Serve the tea over ice and garnish with lemon wedges and fresh mint if you like. Enjoy!
Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Variations
- Swap the sweetener: use granulated sugar, coconut sugar, simple syrup, stevia, or another sweetener to taste.
- Make an Arnold Palmer: omit the honey and mix cooled tea with lemonade for a half-and-half tea-lemonade drink.
- Try different teas: green tea, white tea, or fruit-flavored teas work well iced and create new flavor profiles.
- Use decaffeinated Earl Grey if you prefer a caffeine-free option.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Earl Grey Iced Tea over plenty of ice with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint for a classic presentation. It’s an excellent non-alcoholic beverage for garden parties, barbecues, picnics, or brunches. The subtle bergamot notes pair nicely with light salads, sandwiches, or simple appetizers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with bergamot oil, giving it a distinctive floral and citrus aroma and taste.
Black teas are traditional for iced tea; Earl Grey and Orange Pekoe are excellent choices. Green, white, and fruit-flavored teas also make delicious iced variations depending on your preference.
More Summer Entertaining Recipes
If you enjoy this iced tea, you might also like these complementary summer recipes:
- Earl Grey Scones
- Fiesta Corn Salad with Avocado
- Fresh Mango Salsa
- Rainbow Orzo Salad
- Strawberry Peach Galette
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Earl Grey Iced Tea
Description
Earl Grey Iced Tea with Honey is an easy-to-make, refreshing beverage featuring the citrusy notes of bergamot balanced with gentle honey sweetness. Perfect chilled over ice.
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 4 Earl Grey tea bags
- 3 teaspoons honey (or more to taste)
- Ice
- Lemon wedges and mint leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from heat.
- Stir in honey until dissolved. Add tea bags and steep 15 minutes, then remove the bags.
- Cool to room temperature, transfer to a pitcher, and refrigerate until chilled.
- Serve over ice with lemon and mint if desired.
Notes
Store refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 1 week. Nutritional values are approximate.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 15
- Sugar: 3.1 g
- Sodium: 17 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.1 g
- Protein: 0 g