How to Make the Best Basil Iced Tea Infusion Recipe

Basil Tea is simple to make and a very healthy and refreshing beverage. Learn how to make my favorite basil tea recipe below.

How to Make the Best Basil Iced Tea Infusion Recipe 

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Tea vs Herbal Infusion

The word “tea” is typically used as a catch all for any drink steeped in water and served hot or iced.  However, did you know that in order to be true tea it must come from the camellia sinensis plant?  Green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea leaves are all made from the camellia sinensis plant, contain caffeine, and are considered “real” tea.

However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a lot of other delicious drinks made from steeping various plants, edible flowers, and/or different herbs in water. These are known as herbal infusions and do not contain caffeine.  Common herbal infusions include chamomile, peppermint, turmeric, and hibiscus.

These herbal infusions can be made with with medicinal herbs and served either hot or cold.  They can also be made with either fresh herbs or dried herbs.  Herbal infusions are a great way to take advantage of the various health benefits and delicious flavors that so many natural plants have to offer.

This is a great resource if you want to dive more into the difference between teas and infusions.

A couple years ago I discovered basil “tea” while watching a YouTube video from Jessica Sowards of Roots and Refuge. After trying the recipe, it quickly became one of our favorite things to drink and a summer time staple in our home. After all, there isn’t anything like a nice glass of cold tea after a long day. Its a very refreshing drink that is perfect for hot summer days. The best part is that it doesn’t take a long time to make.

Different Types of Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)

There are several different types of basil. Not only does it have a lot of great flavors, but there are also a lot of health benefits of basil. If you are pregnant or nursing you may not want to consume basil tea. Be sure to do your own research on the medicinal properties of any herbal infusion before consuming.

When thinking of basil as a culinary herb, most people think of Genovese basil. Different types of basil will produce different flavors. For example, Genovese basil has more of a mint, clove, and pepper flavor and is often confused with the sweeter and brighter tasting variety known as sweet basil. Lemon or lime basil contains more citrus flavor. There’s also Thai basil, holy basil, and Tulsi which have notes of clove, anise, mint, and pepper. My favorite basil to use is Blue Spice basil which has pleasant spicy vanilla aromas. Various basils or fresh leaves from other herbs could be combined to create a unique flavor as well.

Basil is a great herb to grow for herbal infusions. Although it’s known for doing well in warmer climates, it can still be easily grown in colder climates as well.

Garden herbs that can be used for herbal tea recipes

There are several fresh herbs that can be grown for herbal infusions.  Here are some examples of plants that are easy to grow and make delicious herbal infusions:

• Lemon balm
• Lemon grass
• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Basil
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Fennel
• Chamomile

Herbal Iced Tea Recipe: Basil Sweet Tea Recipe

What you’ll need

• Basil leaves – Choose from any of the different types of basil, or a combination of them.  I prefer to use fresh basil leaves but dried basil leaves will also work.  I find that dried basil leaves gives the infusion a slightly earthier flavor.
• Boiling water – Clean filtered water is always best.  Heat it to a boil in a kettle or on the stove.  I use my Smeg water kettle to make this step easy.
• Honey or Maple Syrup – I prefer to use raw honey to sweeten my basil tea but real maple syrup would also work great.  Other sweeteners like cane sugar or agave syrup would also work.
• Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always best, but I’ve found ”organic lemon juice” to be a great alternative.
• Ice cubes

Tools you may need

• 2 Half gallon mason jars with lids
• funnel and strainer
• measuring cups
• long spoon

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves

6 cups boiling water

1/4 cup of honey (or more to taste)

2 tablespoons of lemon juice (or more to taste)

Ice to serve

Directions

Start by gathering all your ingredients. Be sure your basil is clean. I use organic practices in my garden so I’m usually comfortable with a visual inspection but use your best judgement here.

Next, add your fresh basil leaves to your jar. I like to make a large batch of basil tea in a half gallon mason jar but to make a single serving you could use a smaller jar instead. When using a half gallon jar I add about two handfuls or two packed cups of fresh basil. I add the stems, leaves, and flowers. You would need about one cup of dried basil leaves for a half gallon jar.

Add your boiling water to the jar, cover with a lid, and let sit for at least 10-15 minutes. I prefer to let mine steep for an hour or more for more flavor.

Use a strainer and funnel (I really like this one) to strain the basil leaves and pour your infusion into a second half gallon mason jar. While the water is still warm mix in your honey. The honey will not thoroughly combine if added after the tea has been refrigerated or iced.

Once the honey is thoroughly mixed in, add your lemon juice and stir. This is my favorite part because the lemon juice turns the holy basil tea a pretty pink color. Add additional water to top off the jar.

You can either serve the basil tea immediately over ice (or as a hot tea if that’s what you prefer) or put it in the fridge for later. It will last in the fridge for 3-5 days, but ours never makes it that long. You can also freeze the tea in ice cube trays to save for later or to use in special drinks.

Variations

This tea is delicious on it’s own, but for an added touch try adding fresh strawberries or frozen blueberries for a blueberry basil tea. You could also follow this same recipe for other edible herbs and experiment with adding orange juice or lime juice for added flavor.

Have you ever tried basil tea? I was skeptical at first but I’m so glad I gave it a try! All of our friends and family who try it love it too and have asked for seeds to grow it themselves. That is one of the greatest joys of gardening, to be able to share not only the bounty from your own garden but to pass on the passion to others to grow their own food as well. This basil tea is a great place to start since it can be grown anywhere from a small pot on a patio to a small space in a large garden. Either way, I hope you give this one a try!

DianaMarieHome

Basil Iced Tea Infusion

Basil Tea is simple to make and a very healthy and refreshing beverage.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Time to steep 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
• 6 cups Boiling water
• 1/4 cup Honey more or less to taste
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice more or less to taste
• ice

Equipment

• 2 Half gallon mason jars with lids
• funnel and strainer
• measuring cups
• long spoon

Method

 

1. Gather your ingredients and wash your basil
2. Next, add your fresh basil leaves to your jar. 
3. Add your boiling water to the jar, cover with a lid, and let sit for at least 10-15 minutes.  I prefer to let mine steep for an hour or more for more flavor.
4. Use a strainer and funnel to strain the basil leaves and pour your infusion into a second half gallon mason jar.  
5. While the water is still warm mix in your honey.  
6. Once the honey is thoroughly mixed in, add your lemon juice and stir.  Add additional water to top off the jar.
7. You can either serve the basil tea immediately over ice (or as a hot tea if that's what you prefer) or put it in the fridge for later.  

Notes

• When using a half gallon jar I add about two handfuls or two packed cups of fresh basil.  I add the stems, leaves, and flowers.  You would need about one cup of dried basil leaves for a half gallon jar.
• The longer the tea steeps, the stronger the flavor it will have.
• This tea will last in the fridge for 3-5 days.
• You can also freeze the tea in ice cube trays to save for later or to use in special drinks.

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