Last Updated on July 26, 2022 by Karen
This Peach and Ginger Iced Tea combines freshly brewed green tea and a flavored simple syrup made with fresh peaches and ginger, perfect for warm weather sipping!
Peaches are finally in season here in Colorado! I look forward to getting as much sweet, juicy, tree-ripened peaches from Palisades as I can every year. One of my favorite things to make with fresh peaches is this peach and ginger iced tea. It’s a refreshing and healthy alternative to powdered iced tea mixes or bottled iced teas made with artificial flavorings. If you loved this drink, try our Sparkling Pineapple Lemonade or Watermelon Coconut Agua Fresca, both of which are equally refreshing and cooling on a warm summer day!
Something about a homemade iced tea always feels very special. Fresh fruit simple syrups are one of the easiest ways to give homemade iced teas incredible flavor, as the fruit flavor gets concentrated and brightens up any drink.
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this Peach and Ginger Iced Tea
Peaches: Fresh peaches work best in this drink recipe. I like to use ones that are very ripe, as they are more juicy and taste sweeter. You do not need to peel the skin, since everything gets strained at the end. In fact, I prefer to leave the skin on so that the syrup gets a beautiful pink color.
Ginger: It adds a nice zing to the iced tea, giving it the perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and fruity. It’s totally optional though.
Tea: You can use your favorite kind of tea, either tea bags or loose tea leaves. My personal favorite is green tea, which is not as bitter. No matter what tea you use, be sure to brew it at the proper temperature. Green tea is best brewed with 175F water and steeped for 1-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like it.
The longer you steep it, the stronger the flavor. Just be careful about leaving the tea leaves in the water for too long, as it will develop bitter flavors.
How to Make Peach and Ginger Iced Tea from scratch:
1. Brew and chill some tea until very cold.
2. Make a peach flavored simple syrup. After simmering fresh peaches, ginger, sugar, and water for 10 minutes, the peaches will become soft and jammy.
3. Mix them together in a pitcher or individual glasses. Garnish with a few peach slices, if you’d like.
By the way, you can save the leftover strained peaches for other uses! It’s so delicious stirred into some oatmeal or Greek yogurt. Sometimes I’ll even use the peaches in my fruit smoothie.
Can you use tea bags to make this Peach and Ginger Iced Tea?
Yes! In fact, green tea bags are what I prefer for ease and convenience. You can also use loose tea leaves. Once the tea has steeped, simply strain it through a fine sieve to remove the tea leaves.
Is green tea healthy?
Green tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Researchers believe that green tea has many health benefits. Research has shown that green tea can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, helps maintain cholesterol levels, aids in weight loss, and even reduces stress!
Is there caffeine in Peach and Ginger Iced Tea?
If you use regular green tea, there is caffeine in this peach iced tea recipe. For every 1 cup of brewed green tea, there is about 28 milligrams of caffeine.
Can you make a decaf peach and ginger tea?
If you want to make this decaf, you can follow the recipe as is and just substitute with decaffeinated green tea bags. Rooibos tea, an herbal tea, is also good for a low bitterness and caffeine-free option.
Can I make this Peach Iced Tea ahead of time?
Yes. Make a large pitcher of this iced tea and keep it chilled in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also make the peach syrup ahead of time, and mix it with the brewed and chilled tea right before serving. When you’re ready to serve, fill a tall glass with ice, then add enough iced tea to fill it most of the way. Then add a few tablespoons of the peach simple syrup, or enough to suit your taste.
How long does the peach simple syrup last?
You can store the peach simple syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can you use a natural sweetener instead of refined sugar?
Yes, instead of using granulated sugar, you can make an unsweetened peach and ginger syrup by simply simmering it in water (do not add the sugar). Let it cool and add maple syrup, honey, or even zero calorie sweetener like monkfruit to taste.
Peaches not in season?
Try this recipe with fresh mango or pineapple. It’s equally delicious and refreshing!
If you like refreshing drinks made with peaches, you’ll love these recipes:
Watermelon Coconut Agua Fresca
Peach and Ginger Iced Tea
Ingredients
For the tea:
- 4 green tea teabags or 4 teaspoons loose green tea leaves
- 4 cups boiling water
For the peach and ginger syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger thinly sliced
- 2 medium ripe peaches pitted and diced
For serving:
- Ice
- Peach slices for garnish
Instructions
To make the tea:
- Add tea bags to a glass pitcher with boiling water and let them steep for about five minutes. Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
To make the peach and ginger syrup:
- Combine sugar, water, ginger, and peaches in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes over low heat. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then strain out the ginger and peaches in a fine mesh sieve.
To serve:
- Fill a tall glass with ice, then add enough tea to fill it most of the way. Add a few tablespoons of the peach simple syrup, or enough to suit your taste. Garnish with peach slices if desired.
