Refreshing Strawberry Lime Iced Green Tea

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 4 servings (about 4 tall glasses)
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour (including chilling)

Quick Ingredients

• 4 cups (960 ml) water
• 4 tsp loose-leaf green tea or 4 green tea bags
• 1 1/2 cups (225 g) ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 3–4 Tbsp sugar, honey, or agave, to taste
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) water, for the strawberry mash
• Ice cubes, extra strawberries and lime slices, fresh mint (optional)

Do This

• 1. Heat 4 cups water to about 175°F (80°C). Add green tea and steep 2–3 minutes, then remove tea. Let cool to room temperature.
• 2. Hull and slice strawberries. Juice limes until you have about 3 Tbsp of juice.
• 3. In a bowl, combine strawberries, lime juice, sweetener, and 1/4 cup water. Mash well with a fork or potato masher until juicy and pulpy.
• 4. Optional: For a smoother drink, briefly blend the strawberry mixture and strain out seeds.
• 5. Stir the strawberry–lime mixture into the cooled green tea. Taste and adjust sweetness or lime.
• 6. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, until very cold.
• 7. To serve, fill glasses with ice, pour in the tea, and garnish with lime slices, strawberry halves, and mint.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Light, refreshing, and naturally energizing thanks to green tea.
• Fresh strawberries and lime add bright, fruity flavor without being too sweet.
• Easy to scale up for picnics, cookouts, or meal prep.
• Flexible: use sugar, honey, or agave, make it sparkling, or turn it into a slushie.

Grocery List

• Produce: Fresh strawberries, fresh limes, optional fresh mint.
• Dairy: None.
• Pantry: Green tea (bags or loose-leaf), sugar or honey or agave, ice cubes, water.

Full Ingredients

For the Green Tea Base

• 4 cups (960 ml) water
• 4 tsp loose-leaf green tea or 4 standard green tea bags (unflavored)

For the Strawberry–Lime Mixture

• 1 1/2 cups (225 g) ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 2 medium limes)
• 3–4 Tbsp (36–48 g) granulated sugar, or honey, or agave syrup, to taste
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) water

To Serve

• Ice cubes
• Extra strawberries, halved or sliced (optional, for garnish)
• Extra lime slices or wedges (optional, for garnish)
• Fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Brew a smooth green tea base

Bring 4 cups (960 ml) of water to just below a boil, about 175°F (80°C). If you do not have a thermometer, heat the water until small bubbles form around the edges but it is not at a full rolling boil. Pour the hot water into a heatproof jug or teapot, then add the green tea (loose-leaf in an infuser, or tea bags).

Let the tea steep for 2–3 minutes only. Green tea becomes bitter if it steeps too long or in water that is too hot. After 2–3 minutes, remove the tea bags or infuser and discard the leaves. Give the tea a quick stir, then let it cool at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes so it does not melt the ice later.

Step 2: Prep the strawberries and limes

While the tea cools, prepare the fruit. Rinse the strawberries under cool running water, then gently pat them dry. Remove the green tops (hulls) with a small knife or your fingers, and slice the strawberries. Measure out 1 1/2 cups (225 g) of sliced berries.

Roll the limes on the counter under your palm to help them release more juice, then slice them in half and juice them. Strain out any seeds. Measure 3 Tbsp of lime juice and set aside. If you like your drinks quite tangy, you can juice an extra half lime to adjust later.

Step 3: Make the strawberry–lime mash

In a medium bowl or large measuring jug, combine the sliced strawberries, 3 Tbsp lime juice, 3 Tbsp sugar (or honey/agave), and 1/4 cup (60 ml) water. Using a fork, sturdy spoon, or potato masher, mash the strawberries until they release lots of juice and form a chunky, saucy mixture. The sugar should mostly dissolve into the juices.

Taste a spoonful. If you prefer it sweeter, add up to 1 additional Tbsp of sweetener. If it tastes flat, add an extra squeeze of lime juice. For a smoother drink, you can transfer this mixture to a blender and blend briefly, then strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove most of the seeds and pulp. For a more rustic, homemade feel, leave it pleasantly chunky.

Step 4: Combine the tea and fruit, then chill

Once the green tea has cooled to about room temperature, pour it into a large pitcher if it is not already in one. Stir the strawberry–lime mixture into the tea, making sure to scrape in all the juices from the bowl. Stir well so the flavors combine and the color becomes a light pinkish-gold.

Taste and adjust: if you want more sweetness, stir in an extra teaspoon or two of sugar or honey until dissolved. If you want it brighter, add a bit more lime juice. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, until the tea is well-chilled and the flavors have mingled.

Step 5: Serve over ice with fresh garnishes

When you are ready to serve, fill tall glasses with ice cubes. Give the pitcher a good stir to redistribute any fruit pieces that have settled. Pour the strawberry–lime green tea over the ice, making sure some of the strawberry bits get into each glass if you left the mixture chunky.

Garnish each glass with a lime slice or wedge on the rim, a halved strawberry, and a sprig of fresh mint if you like. Serve immediately while icy cold and refreshing. Stir gently before drinking to lift the fruit from the bottom of the glass.

Pro Tips

• Mind the tea temperature: Using water that is too hot or steeping too long is the main cause of bitter green tea. Aim for about 175°F (80°C) and a 2–3 minute steep.
• Choose ripe strawberries: Deep red, very fragrant berries will give you the sweetest, most flavorful drink. Pale or firm strawberries will taste flatter.
• Sweeten to taste: Start with the lower amount of sugar or honey, then adjust after everything is mixed and chilled. Cold drinks can taste less sweet than warm ones.
• Customize the texture: For a smooth, “café-style” iced tea, blend and strain the strawberry mixture. For a homier feel, leave it slightly chunky.
• Chill the glasses: If you have time, chill your serving glasses in the fridge or freezer for 10–15 minutes so the ice melts more slowly.

Variations

• Sparkling strawberry–lime green tea: Make the recipe as directed but use only 3 cups (720 ml) water for brewing the tea. Just before serving, top each glass with chilled sparkling water or club soda instead of more tea.
• Frozen slushie version: Freeze the brewed green tea in ice cube trays. Blend the tea cubes with the strawberry–lime mixture and a handful of regular ice until slushy.
• Stronger tea energy boost: Use 5 tsp loose tea or 5 bags and steep for the full 3 minutes for a more robust green tea flavor.

Storage & Make-Ahead

The finished strawberry–lime iced green tea will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The color may deepen slightly as the strawberries infuse more, and some pulp will settle to the bottom; simply stir before serving. For the best flavor and color, enjoy it within 24 hours.

To work ahead, you can brew the green tea base up to 3 days in advance and keep it chilled, tightly covered. You can also make the strawberry–lime mash up to 1 day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Combine them on the day you plan to serve. Do not add ice until right before serving, or it will dilute the drink as it melts.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values for 1 of 4 servings, using 3 Tbsp sugar and without garnishes: about 60 calories; 0 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber; 13 g sugars; 0 g protein; sodium negligible. Using honey or agave will be similar in calories, with slightly different sugar composition.