Starbucks Copycat Iced Black Tea Lemonade Recipe
Today we are making a Starbucks Copycat Iced Black Tea Lemonade Recipe! This is a personal favorite cold drink, inspired by the Starbucks drink Black Tea Lemonade, which is described on their website as premium black tea sweetened just right, then shaken with refreshing lemonade and ice for this Arnold Palmer-inspired beverage. A distinguished, satisfying treat. It sure is perfectly satisfying for the summer season, with just three simple ingredients. Black tea bags, sugar and lemons. No lemonade concentrate or classic syrup! It’s easy to make right at home, especially if making for a crowd or making a summer drink with children. (I also wondered why Starbucks describes this as an Arnold Palmer-inspired beverage, but it turns out that this drink was referring to the professional golfer Arnold Palmer, who often requested it and it’s now attributed to his name).
So, picture this: you’re craving that sweet and tangy goodness of an Iced Black Tea Lemonade, but you’re also keeping a watchful eye on your health goals. Well, you’re in control of the ingredients here. By whipping up this beverage at home, you can control the amount of sugar, make it more tart lemonade if you prefer or add more or less ice.
You can wave goodbye to those crazy sugar spikes because you get to decide how much of how much sugar goes into these iced tea drinks, and overall you’ll use less sugar than in the store-bought version. By controlling the amount of sugar and using natural sweeteners, you can create a healthier version of this drink that fits your dietary preferences or restrictions.
Easily Customizable
Now, you can also adjust the strength of the tea and lemonade to your liking. If you prefer a stronger tea flavor, you can brew it for a longer time before cooling it down. We’ve all got our own unique preferences, right? Some of us dream of a bold, punch-you-in-the-taste-buds tea flavor that leaves no room for doubt.
Others might be fans of a gentler, mellower taste that’s like a cozy hug in a glass. With your homemade tea lemonade, you’re not just limited to how the cafe serves it up. You’re free to let that tea steep overnight as well, giving it a stronger flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Copycat Iced Black Tea Lemonade Recipe
Minimal Ingredients: This recipe boasts simplicity without compromising on taste. With just a handful of easily accessible ingredients, you can replicate the magic with this easy recipe. The straightforward combination of black tea, lemon juice, sugar, and ice brings together a blend of flavors that’s as sweet as it is approachable. No need for complicated techniques or hard-to-find elements here.
Perfect Summer Recipe: As the sun shines down strong, this delicious drink emerges as our favorite refreshing beverage. Imagine unwinding on your patio on a hot day while you sip on this chilled drink, book in hand and sun hat covering you from the bright sun. The combination of the brisk black tea and the zesty punch of lemonade is a symphony of flavors that perfectly complements the season. Whether you’re lounging by the poolside, hosting a picnic with loved ones, or simply seeking a way to beat the heat, this drink is your go-to solution!
Cost-Effective: Buying these popular drinks from cafes can really start to dig into your wallet over time. Let’s face it, those daily coffee shop runs can add up faster than you think. But embracing the world of copycat recipes is just as fun, if not better, than buying them! With your very own drink, you’re not only sipping on something delicious but making it for a fraction of the cost. Make this in a large batch to save on time and money!
Substitutions
Fresh Lemons: Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the best lemon flavor in this iced tea lemonade. Adjust the amount of lemon juice based on your taste. Bottled juice may work as an alternative.
Tea Bag: You can choose any black tea variety you prefer. Orange Pekoe black tea is the best for this brewed tea. However, different versions of black tea bags will provide a different taste. To switch it up, try making this recipe with different herbal tea flavors next time!
Sweetener: This recipe uses xylitol, which is a more natural substitute for white sugar. You can also use white sugar or another sugar substitute. Note that white sugar will not keep this recipe refined sugar-free. Note that different sugars, such as coconut sugar or a liquid sweetener like maple syrup, will all have different taste profiles as compared to regular white sugar or xylitol.
Starbucks Copycat Iced Black Tea Lemonade Recipe Notes
- Make sure the tea lemonade is well chilled before serving. You can also refrigerate the tea overnight for stronger flavor infusion.
- If you want to get creative, you can experiment with adding other flavors like mint leaves or a splash of fruit juice.
- Add a half pinch of baking soda into this recipe when adding the sugar, if the black tea bags are making a bitter lemonade. This removes the bitterness without needing to add too much extra sugar.
More Summer Drinks You’ll Love
If you make this Starbucks Copycat Iced Black Tea Lemonade Recipe, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Starbucks Copycat Iced Black Tea Lemonade Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 Orange Pekoe Tea bag
- ½ medium fresh lemon cut into circular slices
- 8 tsp xylitol
- 2 cups water
- ice cubes
- additional lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Pour the two cups of water into a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Add the tea bags and remove the saucepan from the heat. Cover and let the teabags steep for 5 minutes in the boiling water.
- Squeeze the tea bags to release as much liquid as possible and discard.
- Stir in the sugar.
- Cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.
- When ready to serve, add additional lemon slices into two cups (with a lemon wedge on the side of the cup), or into a large pitcher. Pour tea over top. Enjoy cold!
Notes
- Taken from this recipe.
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Storage
- Store in a covered pitcher for up to 3 days.
