Fresh and citrusy, this homemade lemon iced tea is one of the easiest ways to enjoy tea all summer long. Made with simple ingredients, it is simple to customize to suit your taste.
Homemade Lemon Iced Tea
Lemon iced tea is a refreshing cold tea drink made by combining steeped tea with fresh lemon juice and serving it over ice.
This recipe is easy to make and tastes so much better than bottled iced tea. Fresh lemons brighten the tea with natural citrus flavour and it is perfect for warmer weather.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Iced Tea
- Bright and citrusy: Made with real lemon juice for a bright, refreshing taste.
- Better than store-bought: You can skip the bottled mixes!
- Simple ingredients: Just tea, lemons and a sweetener of your choice.
- Easy to customize: Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Great for sharing: Make a pitcher for backyard BBQ or picnics.
Best Tea to Use for Lemon Iced Tea
Black tea is the classic choice for homemade lemon iced tea because it has a bold flavour that is especially delicious with citrus. English Breakfast tea, Orange Pekoe or Ceylon tea all work well.
For a lighter flavour, you can also try:
- Green tea for a fresh and vegetal taste
- White tea for a delicate and slightly floral iced tea
- Herbal tea like rooibos or honeybush for a naturally caffeine-free option
Ingredient Notes
Check your kitchen for the handful ingredients below before getting started.
- Tea: Black tea or green tea. Loose leaf or tea bags can be used.
- Water: Freshly boiled water for black tea, under boiling water for green tea.
- Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is needed, plus lemon slices for garnishing.
- Sweetener: Use a sweetener of your choice like sugar, honey or simple syrup. If you prefer your iced tea unsweetened, then skip this ingredient.
- Ice Cubes: You can even make tea ice cubes!
How to Make Lemon Iced Tea
Ingredient measurements and full directions are in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: Steep the tea
Bring water to a boil if using black tea or bring water to under boiling if using green tea. Steep the tea of your choice for 3-5 minutes in the hot water.
Step 2: Sweeten the tea
Remove the tea leaves or tea bags. Stir in your sweetener of choice until it dissolves.
Step 3: Add lemon juice & chill
Let the steeped tea cool slightly then stir in the fresh lemon juice. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
Step 4: Assemble & serve
Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour over the chilled lemon iced tea. Garnish the glass with lemon slices before serving and/or enjoying!
Variations
For something different to try, you can:
- Top the glass with sparkling water for a Sparkling Lemon Iced Tea
- Add fresh mint leaves for a Mint Lemon Iced Tea
- Follow this recipe on my blog for a classic Arnold Palmer drink
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make lemon iced tea ahead of time?
Yes. Homemade lemon iced tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What tea is best for iced tea?
Black tea is the classic option, but if you want something lighter I recommend green tea.
Can I make this recipe caffeine-free?
Yes, you can simply use a decaffeinated black tea or an herbal tea like rooibos for something naturally caffeine-free.
Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh lemon juice is recommended as it gives the iced tea a brighter flavour and fresher citrus aroma than bottled lemon juice.
How do I make iced tea less bitter?
Avoid over-steeping! For a stronger brew, iced tea should always be made with more tea leaves or tea bags than usual, not a longer steeping time as that will cause bitterness. Also, don’t use boiling water for delicate teas like green.
More Summer Tea Recipes
If you enjoyed this homemade lemon iced tea recipe, you might also like:
- Iced Tea Lemonade
- Earl Grey Iced Tea
- Cherry Iced Tea
- Mint Iced Tea
- Strawberry Iced Tea
- Chamomile Iced Tea
Lemon Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons black tea or green tea leaves or 2 tea bags
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons sweetener of choice honey, sugar, simple syrup, etc.
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices for serving/garnish
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil if using black tea or bring water to under boiling if using green tea. Steep the tea of your choice for 3-5 minutes in the hot water.
- Remove the tea leaves or tea bags. Stir in your sweetener of choice until it dissolves.
- Let the steeped tea cool slightly then stir in the fresh lemon juice. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour over the chilled lemon iced tea. Garnish the glass with lemon slices before serving and/or enjoying!