I am a coffee and tea lover. Don’t ask me to choose between them — I never could.
Each morning, after lots of water, I start my day with homemade coffee — ground fresh and taken black. Since I’m sensitive to caffeine, I spend the rest of the day sipping hot herbal tea instead. I love the ritual of it: the kettle bubbling to a boil, the scooping of colorful dried herbs, the steam rising as I pour amber liquid into my cup.
As the days grow warmer and spring’s layers begin to shed, I find myself reaching for iced versions of my favorite teas. There’s something so wholesome and feel-good about sipping tea poured over ice, especially when you’re sitting on your porch or in the garden.
To me, this is summer personified — one of the small joys I look forward to most this time of year.
Lately, I’ve been making Lemon Lavender iced herbal tea and enjoying it during warm afternoons. It’s long been one of my favorite hot teas, and now it’s officially my favorite iced. I usually prepare it in the evening, right after making my last cup of hot tea for the day, and tuck it into the fridge to chill overnight. The lemon and lavender are gentle and floral, and just a touch of sweetener makes it feel almost like a dessert.
I’ve included the recipe below. If you try it, I’d love to know — or tell me your favorite tea blend for long, sun-soaked days.
Lemon Lavender Iced Tea
Ingredients:
4 tsp Lemon Lavender herbal tea blend (I love this one)
Sweetener of choice, to taste (I use 1 packet of Stevia)
14 oz Boiling water
Add the tea to your strainer ball or pot. Heat the water to boiling and steep for 5 minutes on the countertop. Stir in your sweetener while the tea is still hot. Move to the refrigerator to cool. Pour over a tall glass of ice.
Enjoy on the porch with a book, your journal, or just your thoughts.
