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Skip the photo tutorial - Jump straight to the recipe
Here's a refreshing, healthy, naturally sweet tea that is so easy to make.
No boiling water; it steeps in the fridge. Calorie-free, too!
This is an accidental recipe that has turned out to my favorite iced tea. It is flavorful and naturally sweet with NO SUGAR! I stumbled onto this iced tea recipe because I was making myself use up a potpourri of assorted teas that had accumulated in my cupboard before I bought any more. It was ridiculous how many half full containers & boxes I had. I was randomly combining some of the flavors to make iced tea when I hit upon this one. I served it to my family when I first came up with this, and they all wanted to know how to make it. So a new recipe is born. Accidentally. And this one is so easy. All you need are 2 kinds of tea bags and water.
The main essential ingredient is this tea: Good Earth's Sweet and Spicy Herbal Tea. My friend, Sheri (owner of the awesome yarn and fabric store,The Loopy Ewe) introduced me to this tea years ago. I've frequently drunk it hot after dinner to satisfy my sweet tooth. It is naturally sweet from a combination of herbs, fruits, cinnamon, and other sweet spices without any sugar or artificial sweeteners. It's delicious hot; but it had never occurred to me to try it cold. Now I always have a jar of it in the fridge. It gets me through our crazy hot & steamy St. Louis summers.
Although most of my recipes aren't specific to one particular brand, this one is an exception. I simply haven't found another tea that has this naturally sweet flavor. So, I only use Good Earth tea for this. And, just so you know, this is not a sponsored post. I have no relationship whatsoever with the Good Earth company; I simply LOVE this tea and highly recommend it.
Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Tea comes in 2 varieties: with and without caffeine. Taste-wise, I can't tell a difference. They both use all natural ingredients, as you can see in the ingredient lists for each below. You can use either kind in this iced tea recipe, depending on whether you prefer your tea with or without caffeine. (FYI, a regular cup of black tea has 1/3 the caffeine of a cup of coffee.)
Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Herbal Tea is widely available in grocery stores and also on Amazon.
View Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Teas on Amazon:
- Original Herbal and Black Tea(It has caffeine.)
- Caffeine Free Herbal Tea
Tastes amazing, ZERO calories! Cinnamon is the dominant flavor, but the other all-natural ingredients combine to make it extraordinarily flavorful. I've never tasted another tea quite like it. It's hands-down my favorite iced tea ever.
I combined Good Earth tea with regular Lipton tea when I was cleaning out my tea cupboard. Turns out I love the combo. It tastes like real tea to me (not too "herbally"), but with a delicious sweet flavor burst. I use half Good Earth Tea and half Lipton tea in this iced tea recipe.
Did I mention that this yummy, naturally sweet tea has zero calories? ZERO. Plus, it's rich in antioxidants. Yay.
Step-by-step photos for making
Cinnamon & Spice Refrigerator Iced Tea
Skip the photo tutorial - Jump straight to the recipe
Assemble the ingredients & supplies.
- 4 Good Earth tea bags--Use either variety, with or without caffeine
- 4 regular black tea bags--Lipton, Luzianne, or other unflavored black tea, regular or decaffeinated
- 8 cups (2 quarts) tap/room temperature water (I filter mine through a Brita pitcher)
- 2 quart jaror pitcher
Note: Quantities may be adjusted for whatever amount you want to make. Use 1 tea bag for each cup of water.
view on Amazon: 2 quart jars, regular Lipton tea bags, decaf Lipton tea bags,Original Sweet & Spicy Herbal and Black Tea,Caffeine Free Sweet & Spicy Herbal Tea, Brita Water Filter Pitcher
Easy Refrigerator Method for Steeping Tea
You can read my previous post, How to Make Refrigerator Iced Tea, for more details about how much easier and healthier it is to use this method. Better than sun tea or the boiled water method. Fridge iced tea is smooth without bitterness. It's the only way I make iced tea anymore. Here's how.
Step 1. Hang the tea bags inside pitcher or jar with the strings hanging over the rim (for easy removal later).
Step 2. Add water, making sure that the tea is immersed.
Step 3. Cover and put in fridge for 6-12 hours. It's ready in 6 hours, but you can leave the tea bags in the water for up to 12 hours for a more intense flavor.
Done. I told you it was easy! Remove the tea bags and store in fridge or serve.
Pour yourself a glass.Enjoy what just might be the most refreshing iced tea you've ever tasted. It's my hands-down favorite. That's for sure!
If you'd like to create some flavored teas of your own, check out my post with Flavored Ice Tea Recipes. I explain how to use jams/preserves, fruit juices, spices and natural flavors to create an endless number of tea flavors and combinations.
Click to view Flavored Iced Tea Recipes
But for something that's as easy and delicious as it gets, make yourself some of this Cinnamon Spiced Iced Tea. If you like the taste of cinnamon, you'll love this tea!
Make it a Yummy day!
Monica
Cinnamon & Spice Refrigerator Iced Tea
By Monica Servings: 8 1-cup servings
Ingredients
- 4 Good Earth* tea bags - Sweet & Spicy Herbal & Black Tea (also available caffeine-free)
- 4 regular black tea bags, like Lipton, Luzianne, or other unflavored black tea (may use decaf, if preferred)
- 8 cups room temperature water
Directions
Use a 2-quart Mason jar or pitcher.
Hang the tea bags inside pitcher or jar with the strings hanging over the rim (for easy removal later). Add water, making sure that the tea is immersed. Cover and put in fridge for 6-12 hours. Remove tea bags and store in fridge or serve.
MAKE ANY QUANTITY YOU LIKE. Use a ratio of 1 tea bag to 1 cup of water.
*Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Herbal Tea is widely available in grocery stores. It can be purchased online at Amazon.com and GoodEarthTeas.com.
This post was updated April 2018.
