This easy, made from scratch, refreshing, Southern Fresh Peach Sweet Tea is just like iced southern peach sweet tea, but made healthier with no sugar and honey sweetened instead. It’s made with fresh peaches and real raspberry leaf tea, making it naturally caffeine free and perfect for the whole family on a hot day!
HOMEMADE PEACH TEA IS THE BEST REFRESHING DRINK FOR SUMMERTIME AND HOT WEATHER - JUST LIKE THE SOUTHERN PEACH DRINK, BUT HEALTHIER!
Have you ever tried making peach tea from scratch?
If you’ve never had honey sweetened peach iced tea before, then you are in for a treat! Honey sweetened peach sweet tea is out-of-this-world, unbelievably delicious!
I became a huge fan of southern peach sweet tea when my southern grandma introduced me to it. When I visited her as a kid, we mostly enjoyed regular iced sweet tea together with our typical lunch of cheese and crackers. When I was in my late teens, she moved back to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee and when I visited her, we drank plenty of legit sweet tea and peach sweet tea.
A Nostalgic Kind of Peach Tea
Back in 1987 Snapple came out with their iced tea flavors. People went crazy for Snapple Peach Tea in the late 80’s and especially in the 90’s. It was marketed as a “better than soda” drink and boy did that work - and I loved it.
Even though the marketing worked, it doesn’t mean that it really is healthier. Have you seen the ingredients?
Filtered water, sugar, citric acid, tea, natural flavors”
That drink contains cane sugar, which we all know isn’t great for anyone, plus citric acid which is known to cause teeth problems and the ever-so-popular “natural” flavors, which can really mean anything.
Natural means flavoring agents that food manufacturers add to their products to enhance the taste. But here’s the catch - “natural” has not been officially defined, it can be used to describe almost any kind of food and safety data about natural flavors is not disclosed to the public.
My copycat Snapple Peach Tea recipe is similar in flavor to that nostalgic drink, but made so much healthier and with 100% real food ingredients.
Healthier Southern Fresh Peach Sweet Tea
Because I loved both peach tea drinks so much, I started making my own southern style sweet tea with fresh peaches - a healthier homemade peach iced tea that my whole family can enjoy. And it’s absolutely thirst-quenching and delightfully mouthwatering!
HOW TO MAKE PEACH TEA FROM SCRATCH
Let's break down what this actually means:
- Peach tea made with fresh peaches ✔️
- Peach tea without sugar ✔️
- Peach tea without caffeine ✔️
- Peach iced tea with loose leaf tea or real raspberry leaf tea bags ✔️
- Honey sweetened peach tea ✔️
- No artificial flavored tea ✔️
- No fake, processed ingredients or preservatives ✔️
That’s what you’re going to find in this real food, 5-ingredient, fresh peach sweet tea recipe!
How to Make Peach Sweet Tea with Fresh Peaches
It’s so easy to make this caffeine free peach iced tea! All you need is 5 ingredients - including water and ice!
Start by picking out some fresh, semi-firm, but ripe organic peaches. Yes, choosing organic peaches for this recipe is important because they are currently #8 on the EWG’s Pesticides in Produce Dirty Dozen™ list. Make sure to give the peaches a quick wash and dry them. Grab a cutting board and knife and cut the peaches in half, remove the pit, thinly slice and set them aside.
Then gather the remaining ingredients - filtered water, raspberry leaf tea bags or loose leaf raspberry leaf, honey and ice, so you have them on hand.
How to Make the Tea
Next, to make the tea, get a medium-size saucepan and add the water. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Once the water has come to a boil, remove from the heat and hang the tea bags inside the saucepan in the water, allowing the tags to hang over the side of the pan. Then cover the saucepan and allow the tea bags to steep for 15 minutes.
Once the tea has steeped, remove the lid from the saucepan and gently squeeze the tea bags over the saucepan to release the extra tea goodness, then discard.
Then carefully pour the tea into a heat-safe 64-ounce mason jar or a large pitcher that has a lid (if your pitcher/jar is not heat-safe, allow the tea to come to room temperature first), then set aside to cool.
How to Make the Fresh Peach Syrup
Now you’ll make the peach syrup! In the same saucepan that you made the tea in, add the water, sliced peaches and honey and heat over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a full rolling boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 7 minutes. While the mixture is simmering, around the 5-minute mark, mash the softened peaches with a wooden spoon or potato masher. Once the peaches are fully mashed, at the 7-minute mark, remove from heat.
Next, set a fine mesh strainer on top of a heat-safe 2-cup glass measuring cup. Pour the peach mixture through the fine mesh strainer, using a wooden spoon to gently press the peach solids to release any peach juice, then discard the solids.
Make sure to let the peach syrup cool for 15 minutes before assembling the iced tea.
Once the peach syrup has cooled, assemble the iced tea by pouring the peach syrup into the cooled tea, then give it a quick stir to fully combine.
Add the ice directly to the peach tea or add ice to individual glasses and pour the peach tea over the ice. Then serve immediately and enjoy a big glass of delicious peach iced tea!
RECIPE FAQS: TIPS FOR PEACH ICED TEA SUCCESS
- Can you double the batch of peach tea? Yes, you sure can! You can even triple the recipe!
- How long does peach tea last? For the best flavor, keep the peach tea covered in the refrigerator and use it within 24 hours. Do not add ice to the stored peach tea as it will dilute the tea and slightly lessen the bold flavor.
- Do you have a favorite honey to use in this honey sweetened peach tea recipe? Yes! I only recommend using a mild, light-colored, quality honey for this recipe. Honey flavors like orange blossom honey, clover honey, thistle honey or alfalfa honey are known to be the most mild in flavor. This is my favorite raw honey - I love their orange blossom and “original” honey. I also love using this raw honey, it’s easy to find online as well as at grocery stores like Sprouts Farmers Market.
- Can the tea be cold brewed instead? Yes! I’ve included cold brew peach iced tea instructions in the recipe. It’s so easy to make this way, in fact, I make it this way most of the time because it’s easier to get that one step done the night before. It’s always helpful to have recipes that you can prepare part of a day ahead.
- How should peach iced tea be served? Peach iced tea is a wonderful drink to serve at summertime parties, potlucks, picnics and any social gatherings because it’s so easy to make. It’s also lovely served in the afternoon to cool off while you relax.
WHEN THE SUMMER HEAT IS STRONG, GIVE THIS DELICIOUS, SIMPLE PEACH ICED TEA RECIPE A TRY!
IF YOU LIKE THIS PEACH ICED TEA RECIPE, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE REFRESHING DRINK RECIPES FROM RECIPES TO NOURISH:
- Strawberry Ginger Switchel (electrolyte drink, easy ferment)
- Strawberry Cucumber Lemon Water
- Sugar-Free Stevia Sweetened Mint Lemonade
- Honeydew Lime Agua Fresca (honey sweetened)
- Hibiscus Strawberry Iced Tea Cooler
- Slushy Blended Watermelon Lemonade
- Healthy Real Food Thai Iced Tea
- Real Food Watermelon Milkshake (dairy-free option)
- Healthy Pineapple Whip (paleo)
- Matcha Moringa Superfood Smoothie
- Real Food Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
- Antioxidant Blueberry Orange Smoothie
- High Protein Raspberry Cheesecake Smoothie
- Healthy Chocolate Orange Smoothie
- High Protein Golden Milk Smoothie
Southern Fresh Peach Sweet Tea
Southern Fresh Peach Sweet Tea
This easy, made from scratch, refreshing, Southern Fresh Peach SweetTea is just like iced southern peach sweet tea, but made healthier with no sugar and honey sweetened instead. It’s made with fresh peaches and real raspberry leaf tea, making it naturally caffeine free and perfect for the whole family on a hot day!
Ingredients
For the Iced Tea
- 4 cups filtered water
- 4 organic raspberry leaf tea bags (this is my favorite tea brand)
- 3-4 cups ice
For the Peach Syrup
- 1 ½ cups filtered water
- 3 medium-size organic peaches, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup mild and light colored honey (this is my favorite honey)
Instructions
For the Tea
- In a medium-size saucepan, add the water and over high heat, bring to a boil. Once the water has come to a boil, remove from the heat and hang the tea bags inside the saucepan in the water, allowing the tags to hang over the side of the pan. Then cover the saucepan and allow the tea bags to steep for 15 minutes.
- When the tea has steeped, remove the lid from the saucepan and gently squeeze the tea bags over the saucepan to release the extra tea goodness, then discard.
- Carefully pour the tea into a heat-safe large pitcher or 64 oz (2 quart) mason jar (if your pitcher/jar is not heat-safe, allow the tea to come to room temperature first). Set aside to cool.
For the Peach Syrup
- In the same saucepan that you made the tea in, add the water, sliced peaches and honey and heat over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a full rolling boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 7 minutes. While the mixture is simmering, around the 5-minute mark, mash the softened peaches with a wooden spoon or potato masher. Once the peaches are fully mashed, at the 7-minute mark, remove from heat.
- Set a large fine mesh strainer on top of a heat-safe 2-cup or 4-cup glass measuring cup. Pour the peach mixture through the fine mesh strainer, using a wooden spoon to gently press the peach solids to release any peach juice, then discard the solids. Let the peach syrup cool for 15 minutes before assembling the iced tea.
To Assemble the Iced Peach Sweet Tea
- Once the peach syrup has cooled, assemble the iced tea by pouring the peach syrup into the cooled tea, then give it a quick stir to fully combine.
- Add the ice directly to the peach tea or add ice to individual glasses and pour the peach tea over the ice. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
You Will Need: large glass pitcher with lid or 64-ounce (2 quart) mason jar, medium-size saucepan, wooden spoon or potato masher, fine mesh strainer, 2-cup glass measuring cup
- COLD BREW OPTION: The night before making the recipe, hang the 4 tea bags inside a large pitcher or 64 oz (2 quart) mason jar with the paper tags hanging outside the top of the pitcher/mason jar, then add the 4 cups of water to the pitcher/mason jar, cover with lid and place in the refrigerator overnight to steep (at least 8 hours). Remove the pitcher/mason jar from the refrigerator the next day and gently squeeze the tea bags over the pitcher/mason jar to release the extra tea goodness, then discard. The iced tea is now ready for the peach syrup!
- SWEETNESS: If you prefer sweeter “sweet tea”, increase the amount of honey to ⅓ cup.
- FROZEN PEACHES: If using frozen peaches, let them come to room temperature before starting the syrup. Please note that frozen peaches will not be as sweet as fresh, so you may need to increase the honey to your desired level of sweetness.
- STORAGE: Keep the peach tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for best flavor. Do not add ice to the stored peach tea as it will dilute the tea and slightly lessen the bold flavor.
- LOOSE LEAF RED RASPBERRY TEA OPTION: Instead of using tea bags, replace each tea bag with 1 tablespoon loose red raspberry leaf tea and follow the same instructions above.
- HOMEMADE ICE CUBES: I love to make filtered water ice with these silicone ice cube trays.
- This recipe can be doubled.
- See Recipe FAQS in the post for more tips.
The photographs of this recipe, recipe and all content above are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos without prior written permission. If you choose to share this recipe, please use proper etiquette and provide a link back to my original recipe on my blog with proper disclosure [the original recipe - "title of recipe" by Recipes to Nourish]. If you make significant changes to the recipe or adapt the recipe in any way, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and provide a link back here with proper disclosure for credit. Thanks for understanding!
Recommended Products
-
Pitcher, Glass Pitcher with Lid and Spout - 68 OZ Water Pitcher for Hot/Cold Water & Iced Tea, 18/8 Stainless Steel Lid, High Heat Resistance, 100% Lead-free
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Cuisinart Kitcheniismo Set of 3 Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers
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Tovolo Perfect Lid 1.25" Cocktails & Smoothies, BPA-Free Silicone, Dishwasher-Safe Ice Cube Tray, Set of 1, Oyster Gray
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 61Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 13gProtein: 1g
This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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