Sparkling Strawberry Mint Iced Tea

5 from 5 reviews

Mint Iced Tea has never been so exciting. We’re infusing the crowd-pleasing summer drink with fresh strawberries, and it’s gorgeous. We’re also talking about how to handle fresh mint, the difference between peppermint and spearmint, and the best way to store fresh herbs.

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Hello my friends. Mint iced tea can take many forms, and our favorite is without a doubt, the strawberry mint iced tea. Strawberries make anything better, right? When fresh strawberries and peppermint sprigs come together, you get sweetness, tartness, and awesome herbal aromatics — just what you want in a drink: a big-batch pitcher of summer refreshment.

How do you make a large batch of sparkling strawberry mint iced tea?

Get your hands on fresh strawberries; they’re easy to find all year round. You also need some fresh peppermint sprigs, and for a six-serving batch of this herbal tea, you’ll need a cup of granulated sugar and sparkling water too. You want to cook the strawberries with the sugar to create a sweet purée that will later blend smoothly with the bubbly water. That’s it! Check the recipe card for the step-by-step instructions.

Large big batch pitcher of strawberry mint iced tea

Infusing fresh mint into the strawberry mixture

The secret behind using fresh mint leaves is making sure they’re fresh. Then slap them to release their aromatic oils. After that you can throw them into your strawberry purée for fantastic results. A fragrant and tasty, refreshing drink!

Why do we slap the fresh mint leaves before putting them in the strawberry mixture, you ask? Aromas in herbs come from the plants’ oils, and that oil is trapped in the leaves’ cells. By slapping the leaves with a good clap, you release those oils, making the herbs so much more aromatic. Try it with all fresh herbs, including the basil leaves you use to top your pasta.

saucepan with strawberry puree and fresh mint sprigs

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Other Uses for Strawberry Purée

By the way, once you have the mint-infused strawberry purée, you also have a fantastic cocktail mixer for tropical, fruit-flavored cocktails, or even the beginnings of a yummy strawberry ice cream. For the cocktail, just add gin, vodka, or white rum, and you’ll get yourself a strawberry-flavored, boozy drink!

Is Iced Herbal Tea Good for You?

Yes, herbal iced tea is good because it’s thirst-quenching, delicious, and because fresh ingredients are always better than artificial flavors. Herbal iced tea can also be good for several reasons:

Refreshing: It's a cool and refreshing beverage, especially on hot days, making it a great alternative to sugary sodas or juices.
Health benefits: Depending on the herbs used, herbal iced tea can offer various health benefits. For example, chamomile tea may promote relaxation, peppermint tea can aid digestion, and ginger tea may help with nausea.
Customizable: You can customize herbal iced tea to suit your taste preferences and health needs by choosing different herbs and flavors.
Low in calories: Herbal iced tea is typically low in calories, especially if you don't add sweeteners, making it a healthier option than many other beverages.
Antioxidants: Some herbs used in herbal teas are rich in antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Does Drinking Unsweetened Tea Count as Water?

Yes, you can hydrate yourself with unsweetened mint tea, which is essential for overall health and well-being. But once you add the strawberries or sugar, you’re talking about a sweetened drink, which has calories. So, it will add to your calorie count.

bunch of fresh mint sprigs on a green background

FAQs about Mint

What are the Benefits of Fresh Mint?

Mint leaves are good for your digestive health, relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and even improve your brain functions! Of course, fresh mint leaves alone are no substitute for any needed medicine.

What’s the Difference between Peppermint & Spearmint?

Both these aromatic herbs are part of the mint family, and there's no significant difference between them besides their intensity. Spearmint’s relatively mild flavor comes from the chemical ingredient carvone which is naturally found in most essential oils. Both have menthol in them, but peppermint contains a higher menthol content (40% versus .05% in spearmint).

Mint adds bright and bold flavor to your recipes. In savory dishes, spearmint is usually the herb of choice; however, peppermint is the favorite herb for sweet recipes as it pairs well with chocolate and citrus flavors.

How do you Make Mint Last Longer in the Fridge?

If you want to store mint leaves in the fridge, store them in an air-tight container covered with a paper towel. Vacuum-sealed bags are ideal but not necessary.

Another method I use is a glass filled with ¼ cup of water; place in the fresh mint sprigs and cover with a plastic bag on top. The plastic bag will protect the leaves from the cold air, and the water will keep the herbs fresh and hydrated.

How do you get the Best Mint Flavor out of Mint Leaves?

Just slap those fresh mint leaves before using them, or chop them coarsely, or muddle them in the bottom of the glass like you would do while making a mojito. This is no rocket science; just release those aromatic oils trapped in the leaves.

two glasses filled with strawberry mint tea

I hope you get a chance to make this Sparkling Strawberry Mint Iced Tea. You can never have enough iced tea recipes up your sleeve, and this strawberry mint iced tea will undoubtedly become one of your favorites!

Did you make this or another recipe? Tag @Spoonabilities on Instagram or add a photo or comment on Pinterest, so we can find you! And we love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Carlos Leo
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Sparkling Strawberry Mint Iced Tea Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 5 reviews

Author: Carlos Leo
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Fresh strawberries, mint sprigs, sugar and carbonated water are all you need to put together a pitcher of this summer favorite. Strawberry mint iced tea will keep you refreshed all summer!

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 cups hulled and roughly chopped fresh strawberries
1 cup granulated sugar
8 peppermint sprigs
6 cups chilled sparkling water
6 fresh whole strawberries with tops

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Instructions

Place strawberries and sugar in a small saucepan; smash or muddle using a bar muddler or wooden spoon. Cook mixture over low heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar melts.
Put each peppermint sprig in the palm of your hand, and give it a good slap to bring out the natural peppermint oil. Stir peppermint sprigs into strawberry mixture; remove from heat. Let to cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
Remove and discard peppermint sprigs from strawberry puree. Blend the mixture in a blender and then pour through a fine mesh strainer into a half-gallon pitcher. Stir in sparkling water.
Fill 6 highball glasses with ice; pour strawberry mixture evenly into glasses. Slice a small slit in each of the whole strawberries and garnish each glass rim with one of them, and/or a sprig of mint.