Made with 5 simple ingredients, this Southern Sweet Peach Tea combines two classically delicious Southern flavors in one glass! Homemade peach simple syrup is mixed with fresh brewed tea and poured over mint-studded ice to make a chilled, refreshing treat.
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As many of you know, I recently relocated to Dallas, Texas! Though the first few months have been full of unexpected life moments, I’m thrilled to be back in the South. From juicy, sizzling BBQ to golden-brown, crisp fried chicken, Dallas is packed with savory, sweet and downright yummy Southern fare. Trust me, the waistline has expanded to no return.
If you know Southern food, you know an indulgent meal is never without an ice-cold beverage. The drink of choice? Sweet Peach Tea! Simple, sweet and refreshing, Iced Peach Tea is the perfect way to cleanse the palate, balance out salty food and find relief from the Southern sun.
Dust off the pitchers, fill the ice tray and let’s sip on something sweet today!
Perks and Highlights of the Best Peach Sweet Tea
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort
Our Peach Sweet Tea is steeped (pun intended!) in Southern tradition, where sipping on sweet tea is practically a regional pastime. It’s the charm of the South in a glass!
Primary Cooking Method: Brewing & Simmering
We’re brewing tea and simmering peaches to perfection. These two simple techniques intertwine the robust flavors of tea with the natural sweetness of sun-ripened peaches.
Dietary Info: Gluten-Free & Vegan-Friendly
Worry not, our sweet sipper is a friend to all! It’s naturally free of gluten and animal products, making it an inclusive beverage delight.
Key Flavor: Peach-Infused Sweetness
The real MVP here is the harmonious blend of succulent peaches with the classic sweetness of Southern tea. It’s a fruity, refreshing twist on your traditional tall glass of sweet tea.
Skill Level: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
You don’t have to be a Southern grandma to master this recipe! If you can brew tea and stir a pot, you’ve got this on lock.
Special Perks:
- Refreshing Recharge: This tea is the ultimate refresher on a hot day. One sip and you’ll feel like you’re lounging on a porch swing fanned by gentle, peach-scented breezes.
- Natural Sweetness: We rely on the natural sweetness of ripe peaches, reducing the need for heaps of added sugar. Your sweet tooth – and your pancreas – will thank you!
- Make It in Bulk: Brewing for a crowd? This recipe easily multiplies for backyard barbecues, family reunions, or any old Tuesday. The more, the merrier!
- Versatile Vibes: Serve it iced under the summer sun, or warm it up for a cozy winter treat. This Peach Sweet Tea is a year-round charmer.
- Healthful Hydration: Apart from its soul-soothing flavor, this tea offers a tasty way to stay hydrated, plus the natural goodness of peaches!
While hot tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years by cultures from around the world, the iced, sweetened variety has only been around since the 19th century. Referred to as the “house wine of the South”, iced tea has been synonymous with states below the Mason-Dixon line since the rise of the South’s thriving tea-growing industry. Because agricultural proximity, iced tea is a cheap, easy to come by beverage throughout the South.
The South is hot, like sweltering, can’t-stand-it hot. The invention of ice boxes and modern day refrigeration was a near miracle for those who suffered through brutal, Southern Summers. The moment icy beverages became available, Southerners grabbed on tight and never let go. For the last century, sweetened iced tea has remained a steady fixture of Southern life. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Selecting the Best Peach
From the beginning of May through the month of September, peaches are ready, ripe and beautifully in-season. One of the best Summer experiences you can have is biting into a juicy, fragrant piece of stone fruit. The sticky juice that runs down the lips and through the fingers is an absolute Godsend!
If using perfectly ripe fruit, this tea is laden with sweet, peachy flavor. So, what do you say we pick some peaches? While a fragrant odor is a good sign, it’s not the main indicator of whether or not the peaches will be any good. Look for vibrant red, pink and orange colors with no patches of green coloration. When pressing into the shoulder and tip of the fruit (where the stem was), there should be a generous amount of give.
Avoid peaches that are too firm, bruised or wrinkly! Follow these simple guidelines and you’re guaranteed the freshest, most luscious fruit EVER.
Ingredients
Take a peek into my fridge and I’ll tell ya what you’ll see: a big, tall pitcher of Sweet Tea. Seriously, I rarely go a Summer day without a few sips of gratifyingly chilled tea. In just a few simple steps, you can create the ultimate drink to keep you cool all Summer long.
Let’s take a closer look at our ingredients:
Peaches
Peaches are abundantly full of sweet juice that pairs perfectly with herbal tea. Their fragrant nature and floral qualities are the perfect way to enhance this drink.
Water
Kinda obvious, huh?
Granulated Sugar
This is sweet tea y’all! We need fructose to boost the natural sugars in the peaches and get each sip to truly sing.
Lemon
An acidic, citrusy juice is key to creating a balanced beverage.
Tea Bags
I’d suggest using black tea. Luzianne or Lipton works great!
Mint Leaves (optional)
This cool, herbal addition is the perfect way to top off this ridiculously refreshing drink.
How to Make Sweet Peach Tea
- Peachy Prep: Kick things off by combin’ those juicy peaches, a couple cups of water, and sugar in a saucepan. You’re gonna let this trio simmer and get all cozy together on medium heat for about 15 minutes. We’re talkin’ peach perfection here!
- Blend it, Baby: Once your peaches have turned all nice and syrupy, it’s time to give ’em a whirl in your heavy-duty blender or food processor. Pulse it real good for 15-30 seconds until you’ve got yourself a smooth concoction.
- Syrup Sift: Grab your strainer and get to work! You’re gonna want to strain that glorious peach mixture, keeping the syrup and saying “thank you, next” to any leftovers.
- Tea Time: Now, for the star of the show – the tea! Get 3 more cups of water to a rolling boil and then let 3 bags of your favorite tea steep in there for 15 minutes. Patience, darlings—it’s worth it!
- Mix and Mingle: Time to bring it all together! Pour your tea, a squeeze of lemon juice, and that sweet peach mixture into a pitcher. Give it a taste and add more sugar if needed, starting with ¼ cup and going from there. We want sweet, not sugar shock!
- Serve it Up: Pour that golden goodness over ice, making sure each glass gets a peach slice and a sprig of mint for that extra “oomph.” Sip and savor, y’all!
Storage
- Cool It: First things first, let your batch of Peach Sweet Tea chill out. Make sure it reaches room temperature after you’ve brewed and mixed it all up.
- Pitcher Perfect: Pour that cooled sweet tea into a clean, airtight pitcher or glass bottle. Plastic works, but glass is really the bee’s knees for keeping your tea tasting fresh.
- Fridge Friends: Pop that pitcher in the fridge! Cold storage is key for keeping your Peach Sweet Tea fresh and fabulous. Plus, who wants warm sweet tea? Not us, y’all!
- Time Check: Your Peach Sweet Tea will keep well in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Past that, and you might lose some of that fresh peach punch and sweetness.
- Serve Chilled: When you’re ready to enjoy it again, just give it a good stir or shake, pour it over some ice, and garnish with a peach slice or mint leaf if you’re feeling fancy.
- No Freezing Zone: Avoid freezing your sweet tea, folks! It can mess with the flavors and let’s be real, thawing tea is just not our jam.
Best Drink Recipes
If you’re looking for me this Summer, I’ll be posted on the porch, cool drink in one hand and a fan in the other. Beat the heat with me by pouring out a glass of one of my most refreshing libations!
Check ‘em out:
Sweet Peach Tea
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Ingredients
- 3 peaches with skin removed, in small dices
- 5 cup water divided
- 2 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 juiced lemon
- 3 family sized tea bags
- Additional peach slices and mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan combine peaches, 2 cups of water and sugar over medium heat.
- Allow the peaches to simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Using a heavy duty blender or food processor, pulse for 15-30 seconds until mixture becomes smooth.
- Strain the peach mixture through a small strainer, extracting only the syrup.
- Boil the remaining 3 cups of water.
- After water is boiling, steep 3 bags of tea in the boiling water for 15 minutes.
- Pour tea mixture, lemon juice and peach mixture into a pitcher. Taste for sweetness. If you need more sugar, start with ¼ cup of granulated sugar until you reach desired sweetness.
- Serve over ice and add slices of peaches and mint for garnish.
Notes
- Cool It: First things first, let your batch of Peach Sweet Tea chill out. Make sure it reaches room temperature after you’ve brewed and mixed it all up.
- Pitcher Perfect: Pour that cooled sweet tea into a clean, airtight pitcher or glass bottle. Plastic works, but glass is really the bee’s knees for keeping your tea tasting fresh.
- Fridge Friends: Pop that pitcher in the fridge! Cold storage is key for keeping your Peach Sweet Tea fresh and fabulous. Plus, who wants warm sweet tea? Not us, y’all!
- Time Check: Your Peach Sweet Tea will keep well in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Past that, and you might lose some of that fresh peach punch and sweetness.
- Serve Chilled: When you’re ready to enjoy it again, just give it a good stir or shake, pour it over some ice, and garnish with a peach slice or mint leaf if you’re feeling fancy.
- No Freezing Zone: Avoid freezing your sweet tea, folks! It can mess with the flavors and let’s be real, thawing tea is just not our jam.
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Great sweet tea the whole family loved!
How to. Make mint studded ice.
This looks delicious! When do you add the lemon juice?
At the end. Sorry that was missing from the instructions, was typing fast. Updated it!
This looks delicious! Do you peel your peaches before making the syrup or just leave them on? Thanks!
Yes I recommend removing the skin.
Perfect summer drink. Sweet tea with ripe peaches… Just sings summer
That looks amazing! I have just the right peaches for this! Thank you!
This was absolutely beautiful and delicious! This was the perfect use for all the peaches we have in our home and super refreshing. Love it!
This sounds like such a refreshing drink and absolutely perfect for the summer!
Love the sound of this..plus I love peaches!
Peach iced tea is my absolute favourite. I can’t get enough of it after making it at home.