Health + Wellness

Our Favorite Summer Tea Recipes

If you’re thinking about reducing your coffee consumption and want to try some iced tea, now is the perfect time to make the switch. Printfresh founder Amy shares her favorite homemade tea recipes.

By Amy Voloshin

June 2021

I have been trying (mostly successfully) to reduce my caffeine intake so I can try to get a better night’s sleep and reduce anxiety. Switching to herbal teas helps me replace the lattes I normally have around 11 am and 3 pm with a more natural, dairy-free and caffeine-free treat.

I took a workshop with Terra Luna Herbals and gained a lot of confidence in working with organic herbs to make different flavored teas. There are so many wonderful combinations of herbs you can put together to suit your palate and create a delicious beverage.

Amy’s Homemade Iced Tea Recipes

Hibiscus Iced Tea: One of my favorite iced teas for the summer is Hibiscus iced tea - it’s the most beautiful color and incredibly refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• Lime slices for garnish

Directions:

Pour 4 cups of the water and the sugar into a medium saucepan. Add cinnamon. Heat until boiling and the sugar has dissolved. Steep with dried hibiscus flowers, removing from heat. Cover and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain into a pitcher and discard the used hibiscus flowers and cinnamon.

When ready mix the concentrate with 4 cups of water and pour over ice to serve. This also works nicely mixed with sparkling water. Serve over ice with a slice of lime if you’re feeling fancy.

Photo credit: <u><a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/minty-lemon-iced-tea" target="_blank">Food & Wine</a></u>

Photo credit: Food & Wine

Minty Lemon Iced Tea (caffeinated): I’m trying this iced tea out for a small office party we are having in our courtyard. It’s a lemon-themed potluck in honor of our best-selling lemon zest pajamas and I’m really excited to see what everyone else shares.

Ingredients:

• Basic simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar)
• 1 cup mint leaves, plus 16 sprigs
• 8 cups cold water
• 8 Irish breakfast tea bags
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish
• Ice Cubes

Step 1 - Prepare mint simple syrup
Prepare the simple syrup by combining 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water and bringing it almost to a boil, adding 8 mint sprigs before it comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes with the mint leaves in there. Strain the mint syrup into a blender once it’s cool and puree with the 1 cup of mint leaves. This will make more than you need as it’s very sweet.

Step 2 - Brew the tea
In a large saucepan, bring the cold water to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let them cool to room temperature. Transfer to a bowl/pitcher or mason jars and refrigerate until chilled.

Step 3 - Combine
Pour the tea into a pitcher, add the lemon juice and stir in 3/4 cup of the mint syrup (or less, it’s super sweet). Serve in 8 tall glasses over ice, garnished with a mint sprig and a slice of lemon.

Licorice Peppermint Fennel Tea: This is an easy-to-make version of the delicious tea you’ll find at any Aveda shop.

Ingedients:

• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons licorice root cut
• 1/2 cup peppermint leaf cut
• 1 tablespoon fennel seed
• 1 tablespoon basil

Directions:

The root & soul of my collection is our use of plant dyes. I was drawn to them originally for their luminous color and fell hard for them once I developed a greater understanding of their environmental and health benefits.

Some conventional dyes have been linked with cancer and fashion is the second-largest polluter of water globally. Natural dyes have a rich history, but there has been little preservation of their traditions here in the states, and even less development for commercial use. Embedding this practice into my line felt essential the more I learned about it.

Purchasing Organic Iced Teas

If you’re pressed for time, there are plenty of ready to brew iced teas you can purchase. My favorite place to get my loose teas from is Penn Herb in Philadelphia. They have pretty much every herb you can imagine and they sell both wild-harvested and organic herbs. If you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, ask. Their staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable.

Whether you follow one of these recipes or purchase something that’s ready to brew, I hope you are able to take a moment to slow down and enjoy a cup. You can wear your favorite Printfresh pajamas and grab one of our guided journals to reflect in while you sip. What is your favorite herbal tea and when do you drink it?

Please drop your favorite recipe in the comments as I always like to try new recipes and experiment with flavors.

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PF MAG: Founder Amy Voloshin is passionate about creating a space that speaks to our brand, shares unique perspectives from pattern enthusiasts and finds ways to promote more sustainable living. Our blog PF Mag covers creative topics on all things lifestyle - including behind the scenes looks, fashion, design, travel, and home decor, as well as interviews with some of the people who inspire us most.