Healthy Sweet Tea Recipes for Summer

The only thing better than a cool glass of sweet tea in the summer is a cool glass of sweet tea that you made yourself.

And there’s nothing better than drinking a cool glass of sweet tea that you made yourself unless it’s a cool glass of delicious homemade sweet tea that also happens to be healthy.

Benefits of Tea

All types of tea – green, black, white, and oolong – come with a host of health benefits. Regularly drinking tea is associated with positive effects that include: 

• Improved cardiovascular health
• Better protection against infections, viruses, and free radicals
• Stress reduction
• Improved focus, concentration, and energy
• Help with diabetes management
• Decreased risk of dementia
• A healthier gut

So whether you’re in it for the health benefits, or you just want a few go-to healthy sweet tea recipes for summer so that you can sip a glass in peace on your porch (or impress your guests at your next barbecue), here are some healthy sweet tea recipes for summer you can’t go wrong with.

Healthy Sweet Tea Recipes for Summer

Basic Sweet Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• ¾ cup organic, raw honey (local if possible)
• 2 bags (or two scoops) of your favorite iced tea
• 1 gallon cold, filtered water
• Fresh lemon

Instructions

1. Bring a half gallon of cold, unfiltered water to a boil. Once it is boiling, remove it from heat.
2. Steep tea bags for 5 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags.
4. Add raw honey (more or less to taste) and stir.
5. Pour into pitcher.
6. Pour the other half gallon of cold water into the pitcher and briefly stir.
7. Put the pitcher in the refrigerator.
8. Serve chilled with optional ice cubes and a lemon slice garnish.

Southern Style Sweet Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ gallon (8 cups) chilled water
• 6 green tea bags
• ½ cup raw honey or maple syrup
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 8 fresh mint leaves (more for garnish optional)

Instructions

1. Bring 2 of the cups of water to the point of steaming on the stovetop.
2. Once steaming, remove from heat and add the green tea bags.
3. Steep tea bags for 8 minutes.
4. Remove tea bags and stir in honey or maple syrup. Stir until combined.
5. Pour remaining 6 cups of water into the pitcher.
6. Pour tea into a pitcher. Stir water and tea together.
7. Add sliced lemons and mint leaves to the pitcher. 
8. Serve chilled over ice and enjoy!

Tips 

No matter which recipe you prefer, there are just three things it’s always good to have on hand so that you can make healthy sweet tea any time:

• Your preferred tea (bags, packs, or scoops)
• A gallon pitcher (glass is best, but not necessary)
• Healthy sweeteners 

The secret to keeping any sweet tea recipe healthy is to replace the sugar with a healthier, alternative sweetener. Your choices range from raw honey to Xylitol to Stevia to agave nectar to monk fruit syrup and much, much more. 

When you make your next batch of sweet tea, here are some natural sweeteners to start with.

Organic Raw Honey from YS Organic Bee Farms

100% Certified Organic Raw Honey from YS Organic Bee Farms is harvested with extreme care, 100% pure, natural, unpasteurized, unfiltered, and is fresh from healthy beehives. Besides being delicious, organic, raw honey is also a functional food with the highest possible levels of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healing agents.

Better Stevia Liquid Sweetener: Coconut from NOW Foods

Liquid Stevia Extract: Coconut from NOW Foods is a low glycemic, zero calorie healthy sugar substitute that features a great liquid stevia flavor from pure stevia extract. Not only that, but with a refreshing coconut flavor, it’s the perfect finishing touch to give your sweet tea another layer of delicious flavor.

If you prefer your stevia without coconut flavoring, try NOW Foods’ unflavored Better Stevia Organic Liquid Sweetener instead.

Sure Stevia Plus Monk Fruit Powder from Kal

If you’ve been wanting to branch out a little from stevia, or if you’re curious about monk fruit sweetener, Sure Stevia Plus Monk Fruit Powder from Kal is the ideal compromise. This zero calorie sugar alternative comes in convenient single serving packets, so you can use them in your sweet tea at home, or bring a few on the go.

What are your go-to healthy sweet tea recipes for summer?