Cool down this summer with a tall glass of homemade raspberry iced tea. Big on fruit flavor, low on sugar, this summertime drink will rejuvenate any individual searching for a little relief from the heat.

My husband works in a manual labor job. The days can sometimes be long and physically intensive. Especially during the summer months. Heat and humidity are not his best friends. The longing for even the slightest cool breeze is most welcome during the mid day blaze.

Over the years I have searched for many things to keep my husband cool. Everything from fans and cooling towels to frozen treats and thermoses full of ice cold drinks. One of his favorite beverages is iced tea. He loves a big glass of unsweetened sun tea but occasionally he craves something with a bit of sweetness. Iced raspberry tea is his go-to drink to satisfy his thirst on hot sweaty days at work or on the homestead.

This lightly sweetened raspberry iced tea is big on real fruit flavor and low sugar with a slight tang of lemon. If you prefer your tea a little sweeter, you can easily add in more agave or honey.

To all those hard workin’, perpetually sweating individuals, put your feet up in front of a fan and pour yourself a cold, refreshing glass of homemade raspberry iced tea.

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Healthy Sugar Alternatives for Tea

If you’re looking to sweeten your homemade tea but would prefer to skip the sugar, you may be wondering “what can I put in tea instead of sugar?”. In our household we are partial to natural sweeteners, usually opting for a choice that is low glycemic. Here are a few natural alternatives to refined sugar.

• Agave nectar
• Honey
• Stevia
• Date sugar or syrup
• Monk fruit
• Fruit or fruit juice

What is Agave and What is it Used For?

Agave nectar comes from the agave plant, primarily the Blue Weber or Blue Agave variety. It is often grown in tropical areas such as Mexico. The plant has been around for many years but only recently has become a popular sweetener alternative to sugar. Farmers will harvest the fruit (the pina), scoop out the liquid and carefully process it without chemicals to transform the carbohydrates into fructose. Due to the gentle processing method, agave is considered an organic, unrefined, healthy sweetener.

Most varieties of agave are considered low glycemic with a glycemic index of 19 to 39. Oddly enough, it is sweeter than sugar so you can use less agave nectar for the same effect as granulated sugar. We use agave to sweeten iced tea recipes, whey soda, coffee, yogurt, lemonade and occasionally add it into our baked good recipes. One of our favorite ways to use agave is to add a bit of maple extract into the bottle of agave and drizzle it onto waffles and pancakes.

FAQ

What Type of Tea is Raspberry Tea?

Black tea is used in this recipe to make homemade raspberry tea.

Does Raspberry Iced Tea Have Caffeine?

Yes. Raspberry tea made with black tea contains caffeine. While black tea does include caffeine, the amount varies depending on how much you consume and what variety you are using.

Does Raspberry Iced Tea Have Sugar?

Most bottles of commercially made raspberry iced tea that you would find in the grocery store contain loads of sugar. In this recipe for sugar free raspberry iced tea, the beverage is naturally sweetened with agave nectar. Alternatively, you can sweeten the tea with honey or your desired sweetener of choice.

How to Make Homemade Raspberry Iced Tea

Learn how to make raspberry iced tea with tea bags, fresh fruit and no sugar in this delicious and refreshing homemade raspberry iced tea recipe.

Makes 6-8 Servings (2 quarts)

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon agave or honey
2 quarts water
7.5 oz (2 cups) fresh or frozen raspberries
5 black tea bags
1tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Add water to a saucepan over medium high heat. Whisk in agave. Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat.

Add raspberries and tea bags. Place a lid on the saucepan and steep for 30 minutes.

Using a mesh strainer, pour mixture through the strainer into a pitcher. Dispose of the raspberries and tea bags. Add in the lemon juice.

Refrigerate until chilled. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

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