Description
Refreshing Blueberry Tea Lemonade: homemade blueberry tea concentrate meets fresh lemonade for the perfect summer drink.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups water
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 6 black tea bags (English Breakfast or similar)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 6–8 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 6 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh blueberries, for garnish (optional)
- Lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
- Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Water and Blueberries: In a large saucepan, combine the 8 cups of water and 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen).
- Bring to a Boil: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Simmer and Infuse: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for about 15-20 minutes.
- Add Tea Bags: Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the 6 black tea bags. Let them steep for 5 minutes.
- Sweeten the Tea: After steeping, remove the tea bags and gently squeeze out any excess liquid. Stir in the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until it’s completely dissolved. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed.
- Strain the Concentrate: Pour the blueberry tea concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth-lined colander into a heat-safe container.
- Cool Completely: Let the blueberry tea concentrate cool completely to room temperature. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the container in the refrigerator.
- Juice the Lemons: Squeeze the juice from about 6-8 lemons until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- Make a Simple Syrup (Optional): Combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the syrup cool completely before using.
- Combine Lemon Juice, Sugar (or Simple Syrup), and Water: In a large pitcher, combine the 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, 1 cup of granulated sugar (or the cooled simple syrup), and 6 cups of cold water. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust the sweetness or tartness as needed.
- Chill the Lemonade: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Fill Glasses with Ice: Fill each glass with ice cubes.
- Combine Concentrate and Lemonade: Pour the blueberry tea concentrate into each glass, filling it about one-third of the way. Then, top it off with the chilled lemonade.
- Stir Gently: Gently stir the blueberry tea concentrate and lemonade together to combine.
- Garnish (Optional): Garnish with fresh blueberries, lemon slices, and/or fresh mint sprigs.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the blueberry tea lemonade immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the sweetness of both the concentrate and lemonade to your personal preference.
- For a sparkling version, use sparkling water or club soda in the lemonade.
- Experiment with different fruits in the blueberry tea concentrate.
- Try different types of tea for a unique flavor profile.
- For an adult version, add a shot of vodka, gin, or rum.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes