I can’t remember the first time I took a sip of homemade iced tea but I imagine I didn’t like it.
These days, iced tea is my go-to non-alcoholic summer drink. Unfortunately, most store-bought versions are loaded with refined sugar, which doesn’t exactly fit my clean-eating goals.
So I set out to create a homemade iced tea recipe without white sugar — something naturally sweet but still refreshing.
It took a lot of experimenting (maple syrup iced tea, anyone?). But eventually, I found the perfect balance. The secret ingredient? Honey! It gives the tea just enough sweetness without overpowering the flavour.
If you’re craving a healthy iced tea recipe that’s naturally sweetened, you’ll love this one. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and ideal for summer sipping.
Outstanding Homemade Iced Tea
Refreshing homemade iced tea made with black tea, lemon, and honey instead of sugar. It’s the perfect clean-eating summer drink — lightly sweet, smooth, and easy to make in minutes.
Ingredients
- 8 cups of water
- 1 bag of green tea
- 2 bags of orange pekoe tea
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp pure unpasteurized honey
Instructions
- Boil 8 cups of water in a large pot.
- Turn off the heat and add all the tea bags to the water.
- Cover and let steep for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
- Remove tea bags.
- Stir in honey until completely dissolved.
- Add 1/2 cup lemon juice.
- Pour into a heat-resistant pitcher.
- Place in the fridge.
- Serve when completely chilled.
Notes
- Sweetness level: Start with 3–4 tablespoons of honey; adjust to taste. Remember that honey tastes sweeter than sugar, so you’ll need less.
- Tea options: Black tea gives classic flavor, but green tea or rooibos also work beautifully for a lighter or caffeine-free option.
- Serving ideas: Add lemon slices, fresh mint, or frozen berries before serving for a naturally flavored twist.
- Storage: Store in a covered glass pitcher or jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir before pouring, as the honey can settle slightly.
- Clean-eating tip: Use raw or local honey for extra minerals and antioxidants, and filtered water for the freshest flavor.
- Summer entertaining: Double the recipe and serve in a clear dispenser with citrus slices for a simple, beautiful backyard drink station.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 51Sodium 14mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 0gSugar 13gProtein 0g
The nutrition facts provided are calculated automatically and are intended for informational purposes only. Actual values may vary depending on specific ingredients, portion sizes, and preparation methods.
Iced Tea Recipe Variations
-
Add lemon slices or fresh mint leaves
-
Use green tea for a lighter flavour
-
Try a splash of peach juice for a fruity twist
Do you have a favourite iced tea recipe? Share your variations in the comments — I love trying new ways to make this summer classic even better.
P.S. Are you in search of another summer treat? Check out my recipe to make knock-off Tim Horton’s Iced Capps!
SHARE WITH OTHERS
Mmmm ice tea sounds delicious right about now! It is a perfect drink for those hot summer days!
You’re right iced tea is THE drink for hot summer days!
Sounds super yummy to me! I like unsweetened iced tea best though, I think. :-)
It is really yummy. I’ve tried the unsweetened tea but really didn’t like it (it’s too bitter for my taste buds).
If you put a pinch of baking soda, it’ll take the bitterness away! :)
I love honey anything! Ice tea is incredibly delicious in the summer! You know I’m pinning this
Thanks for pinning! I hope you love it!
I haven’t drunk ice tea for YEARS!!
…And this summer has been ice-coffee overdose :-) …I’ll need to test this one out! Thanks for the tried and tested recipe.
Ooooh, I hope you like it as much as I do!
I used to be a big iced tea drinker when I lived in Texas – there, it was called “sweet tea.” It took about as much sugar as tea to make it and was something of a diabetes-inducing drink.
I’ll try making yours because I’m kind of nostalgic for it now. Honey. Who’d have thought?
Thanks for sharing, Jennifer!
I know right?! Honey seems like such a practical substitute.
I hope you enjoy it!
I have to be honest, I’m not a big fan of iced tea. I do love when it’s half/half but just iced tea doesn’t cut it for me. I’d be willing to give yours a try though and let you know how it turns out. :)
I can’t really recall when I became an iced tea fanatic. Thanks for stopping by my friend!
That sounds YUMMY! This Southern girl loves her sweet tea. The little town text to mine claims to be the birthplace of sweet tea. That being said, I haven’t had any for a year or so since I cut back on sugar and have been trying to drink mainly water. But I do have some sort of organic oolong tea that I have been trying to get up the courage to try that Dr. Oz recommended. lol
We add a pinch of baking soda in our tea down here. My parents always did it, and I think my mom said it helped make it not bitter or something like that. I’m guessing what it really helps with is the acidic nature of tea, making it more alkaline.
Baking soda?! Do you add a pinch per cup or a pinch to the pitcher? I will have to give that a try.
I actually use maple syrup for coffee! And that’s the one instance, in which honey really won’t do. Although my husband does it!
I’ve never liked tea or iced tea, but I can feel it growing warmer over the years. I bet I haven’t had it just right quite yet.
The maple syrup in the iced tea wasn’t horrid but it wasn’t that great either.
It’s funny how after writing this post, I’ve discovered how many people don’t really care for iced tea. Very interesting.
Now you’ve gone and made me want to make ice tea. I used to drink it unsweetened all the time, but this year, we’ve hardly made any!
The power of suggestion. Go make the iced tea Brenda… you know you want it (insert maniacal laugh here).
I would take iced tea by IV if I was allowed. I’ve been cutting back on sugar consumption just like you, though, so I’ve hardly had any all summer.
This recipe might be what pushes me off the wagon again. ;)
I feel less “guilt” with the honey being in the iced tea.
You might just have to make some!
Yum, Jennifer! This iced tea sounds like it would hit the spot! My mom used to make a good iced tea too. We lived in a two story house and the roof on the living room part of the house was flat. You could open the window in the upstairs bathroom and step on to the roof. She would always brew her tea by leaving on the living room roof all day long. She called it sun tea.
It’s a super yummy iced tea Susie!
Thanks for sharing your memories of iced tea as well. Sun tea… I like that!
Oh this sounds like it would be yummy! I am a sweet tea freak, and my mom finally kicked her sweet tea habit a few years ago and wishes I would stop putting so much sugar in mine. I’m gonna try this and share it with my mom too, it sounds way better than the tea she drinks!
It is super yummy! I don’t feel as guilty drinking this one (since it has honey in it)!
I hope you and your mom enjoy it.
This tea sounds delicious! How do you come up with such great recipes, Jennifer?! Yum!
It’s so good Kelli.
How do I come up with great recipes?! Lots of mistakes Kelli… lots of mistakes.
I am not a big fan of iced tea, but that’s probably because I haven’t found one I like and I’d rather dehydrate before drinking a shop bought one!
I like the sound of this one though, especially if the orange pekoe tea tastes orangy – and why wouldn’t it? I have no idea what orange pekoe tea is though and would probably battle to get it here….They still still Liptons tea here! Which I am sure was made illegal under the Ban Desgusting Tea act.
Too funny.
Well, I don’t think orange pekoe has an orange flavour. It’s just one of the simplest, plain teas. This iced tea is yummy though. The honey gives it a pleasant sweetness.