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–+ servings
A glass of instant iced tea on a counter with fresh herbs.

Almost Instant Herbal Iced Tea (Cold Brew)

Use up those extra fresh herbs from the garden and make this homemade instant herbal iced tea. No boiling water or tea bags are needed, just fresh herbs and water!
5 from 4 votes
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 11kcal
Author: Carolyn Thomas
Cost: Varies

Equipment

  • High-Powered Blender
  • Funnel
  • Fine-Mesh Strainer

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh basil or other fresh herbs
  • 3 cups water
  • sweetener optional

Instructions

  • Add three cups of water to a high-powered blender.
  • Tear herbs just a bit and place them into the blender.
  • Add sweetener, if using, and place the lid on tight.
  • Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds.
  • At this point, you can strain the tea into a glass of ice or let it steep for about five minutes to take on the flavor of the herbs even more.

Video

Notes

This recipe is incredibly versatile and can be made with many herbs from the garden, or if you go foraging for herbs, you can use those, too! Some of my favorites are as follows:
  • Holy Basil (Tulsi) – This is great if you feel run down or overworked. If you are growing holy basil (tulsi), it’s fine to use the herb once it’s gone to seed (flowered) as there are medicinal benefits in the flowers and seeds.
  • Sweet Basil – Use sweet basil before it’s gone to seed, as the flavor turns a bit bitter. (Learn how to grow basil here.)
  • Anise Hyssop – If you enjoy a somewhat licorice flavor, this is a fantastic herb to use.
  • Peppermint – Mint is a great herb for summer iced teas as it cools us down from the inside. (Learn how to grow peppermint here.)
  • Chamomile – If you grow chamomile, you can use it when you are feeling tense to help you calm down.
  • Korean Mint – This variety of mint is one of my favorites. If you haven’t tried growing it, I highly recommend it.
  • Lemon Balm – The lemon balm plant is fantastic to add alongside other herbs such as basil, mint, chamomile, and even lavender.

Nutrition

Calories: 11kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 2532IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 2mg
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