Iced Peach Sweet Tea

This iced peach sweet tea recipe is the perfect summer drink! It’s a refreshing Southern treat made with simple ingredients and fruity flavor.

Table of Contents

1. Why Sweet Tea is a True Southern Staple
2. Ingredients for Iced Peach Sweet Tea
3. How to Make Iced Peach Sweet Tea at Home
4. Tips for the Perfect Peach Sweet Tea Recipes
5. More Sweet Peach Recipes from I Heart Recipes
6. Peach Sweet Tea Recipe

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Hey guys and gals! With the super warm weather finally making its way to the PNW, I thought it would be a good idea to share a recipe for a nice, cold drink! What’s better than an ice-cold glass of sweet iced tea?! I can’t think of many drinks that compare.

Say hello to the perfect drink for summer! This easy sweet tea recipe is infused with peach flavor and is nothing short of amazing and refreshing. It takes only a few minutes to make and quenches the thirst on the hottest of hot summer days. Honestly, though, I think sweet peach tea is perfect for any occasion! Whether it be a sunset barbeque, a family picnic, or a dinner for two, peach iced tea is the perfect beverage.

Why Sweet Tea is a True Southern Staple

The history of sweet tea has deep roots in the Southern states, and just about anyone from there can confirm that sweet tea is a year-round drink. Southern sweet tea can be traced all the way back to the late 18^th century when the first tea was planted near Charleston, South Carolina. From there, 100 years passed before the first printed iced sweet tea recipe appeared in a cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree.

It wasn’t until 1904, at the St. Louis World’s Fair, that iced sweet tea became really popular. The summer heat was so brutal that no one was drinking the hot tea one vendor was selling. So, he had the brilliant idea to run the tea through iced pipes, and then iced sweet tea was born!

Nowadays, you can’t walk into a Southern restaurant without finding sweet tea on the menu. It’s the definition of a Southern staple. Adding fresh fruit is the perfect addition to an already refreshing drink—which is why variations like raspberry, lemon, and other fresh fruit flavors exist!

Ingredients for Iced Peach Sweet Tea

Instead of a complicated recipe for homemade peach syrup and fancy loose-leaf tea, I’m going to share my simple recipe. You only need store-bought stuff for this iced peach tea recipe, and I’m tellin’ y’all… you’ll never need another recipe after this one!

You can find the ingredient measurements in the recipe card below. The recipe, as written, makes about four cups total, which is enough for 3-4 servings. You can easily double or triple the recipe if you want to make a larger batch of tea!

• Water: you’ll need four cups of water total: two hot and two cold. If you have filtered water, I recommend using that for the best taste.
• Tea: I’m not married to many brands, but in this case, I prefer to use Lipton black tea bags. If you have a favorite brand, by all means, use it!
• Sugar: this recipe uses plain ol’ granulated white sugar to sweeten the tea.
• Peaches: I find that frozen peaches hold up better. They also keep the sweet tea nice and cold, giving it a fresh peach flavor.
• Ice: can’t have iced peach sweet tea without the ice!

The Best Sweeteners for Peach Iced Tea

The typical sweet peach tea recipe uses plain white sugar as a sweetener. However, some people don’t enjoy or can’t have added sugar. So, are there alternative sweeteners you can use for sweet tea? Sure!

• Brown sugar will give your sweet tea a deeper flavor.
• Honey is a natural sweetener that pairs perfectly with peach.
• Maple syrup is also a natural sweetener alternative, with a deeper, richer flavor than honey.
• Simple syrup is a combination of sugar and water cooked down and can be flavored with fruit.
• Stevia, aspartame, and monk fruit sweeteners are healthier alternatives with lower calories. Monk fruit is much sweeter than regular sugar, so you only need a little!

Keep in mind that different sweeteners may change the taste of your tea. It’s best to test alternative sweeteners in individual glasses before making a whole pitcher (unless you know you like it!).

How to Make Iced Peach Sweet Tea at Home

Making this refreshing sweet peach tea recipe could not be easier! It’s simple, delicious, and fruity—it belongs on your summer beverage list! Imagine a nice cold glass of this tea on a hot day, sippin’ by the pool, sunnies on, sunbathin’! Oooohhh, fam… that’s a vacation Cousin Rosie needs right now!

1. Steep six bags of black tea in two cups of hot water for 20 minutes.
2. After 20 minutes, remove the tea bags (don’t squeeze them!) and pour the tea into a pitcher.
3. Stir in the granulated sugar and frozen peaches.
4. Add two cups of cold water and stir to combine.
5. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the sweet tea for at least one hour.
6. To serve, put a few slices of frozen or fresh peaches in a glass along with ice cubes. Pour in the tea, and get sippin’!

Homemade Sweet Peach Iced Tea Video Tutorial

Watch how I make this simple peach tea below! To catch more of my video tutorials, be sure to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube.

Tips for the Perfect Peach Sweet Tea Recipes

Whether you’re enjoying this Southern peach iced tea in the blazing heat of the summer or any other time of year when the mood strikes, here are some extra tips for making it perfect. After all, the best way to make sweet tea is your way!

• To avoid watering down the tea, fill some ice cube trays with the tea to make sweet tea ice cubes! You can also dice up some fresh peaches to put in the ice.
• If you can’t find frozen peaches, buy fresh peaches, cut them into slices, and freeze them yourself.
• If you’re making this drink during peach season (from late May to early October), finish each glass with fresh peach slices and fresh mint leaves for the perfect garnish.
• Adding lemon juice or fresh lemon slices helps balance the sweetness of the peach tea. It’s a perfect pairing if you want extra flavor!
• Make a boozy version with the addition of your favorite spirits! Try peach liqueur, peach schnapps, or something classic like vodka or whiskey for a yummy sweet tea cocktail.

How to Make a Fresh Peach Syrup for Peach Sweet Tea

If you want to go a step further and make your own homemade peach syrup, you can learn exactly how to do that in my Southern Peach Tea recipe here! It’s a simple mix of sugar, water, and peaches cooked down and strained. Simple, peachy, and perfect! You can even use any extra syrup in other recipes.

More Sweet Peach Recipes from I Heart Recipes

Have some leftover peaches from this recipe? I gotchu, cousins. Next time, choose one of these recipes to make with your fresh, juicy, ripe peaches!

• Peach Cobbler Cheesecake
• Peach Pretzel Jello Dessert
• Grandma’s Peach Pie with Canned Peaches
• Easy Peach Lemonade Recipe
• Peach Blueberry Cobbler Crisp
• Instant Pot Southern Style Peach Dump Cake

Peach Sweet Tea Recipe

This refreshing, ice-cold peach sweet tea recipe is the perfect summer drink! Made with freshly brewed black tea and frozen peaches, it's best enjoyed poolside.

Watch Video Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Beverage

Cuisine Southern

Keyword Sweet Peach Iced Tea

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups hot water
• 2 cups cool water
• 6 tea bags
• ⅔ cups granulated sugar
• 1 pound frozen peaches divided
• Ice cubes for serving

Instructions

• Add 6 tea bags to 2 cups of hot water. Let steep for 20 minutes.
  2 cups hot water, 6 tea bags
• Transfer the tea concentrate to a large pitcher.
• Add in ⅔ cup granulated sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
  ⅔ cups granulated sugar
• Add in ½ pound of frozen peaches.
  1 pound frozen peaches
• Add 2 cups cool water. Stir.
  2 cups cool water
• Cover pitcher and refrigerate for one hour.
• To serve, place a couple slices of frozen peaches and a few ice cubes into a glass, pour in sweet peach iced tea.
  Ice cubes
• Enjoy!

Video

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Recipe by: I Heart Recipes