Orange Rosemary Iced Tea Recipe – A Delicious Citrus & Herb Fusion!

Creating Orange Rosemary Iced Tea brings a refreshing twist to the classic iced tea experience. Every glass is a celebration of fresh, bold ingredients that capture the essence of summer.

This iced tea is a drink that invites you to slow down and savor each sip. Great for sipping on a warm afternoon with friends and family, it never fails to impress with its refreshing complexity and vibrant flavors.

Orange Rosemary Iced Tea has been one of my favorite iced tea recipes this summer and I’m sure you’ll love it too!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Refreshing and Energizing: The bright, zesty flavors combined with the subtle warmth of ginger offer a refreshing and energizing drink, perfect for hot days or as a midday pick-me-up.
• Boosts Immunity: The vitamin C from the orange juice and the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger contribute to boosting your immune system while enjoying a refreshing drink.
• Seasonal and Fresh: Using fresh, seasonal ingredients like oranges and rosemary makes this tea a vibrant and flavorful way to enjoy the best of what nature has to offer, especially during warmer months.
• Guilt-Free Indulgence: With natural ingredients and the ability to control the sweetness (you can leave out the sugar or replace it with stevia), this tea is a delicious yet low-calorie beverage you can enjoy without guilt.
• Great for Batch-Making: This recipe is easy to scale up, making it perfect for preparing large batches ahead of time for parties, picnics, or simply to have on hand in the fridge for the week.

Ingredients

When making Orange Rosemary Iced Tea, the choice of ingredients plays a crucial role in achieving a balanced and flavorful drink.

Starting with black tea, you can either select a robust variety such as Assam or Ceylon, or go for a slightly milder option like Darjeeling. If you don’t want to make things too complicated, the regular black tea bags (e.g. Twinings, Lipton) in your tea cabinet will do just fine.

The orange(s) used for juice and zest should be fresh and ripe, as they are the primary source of citrus flavor in the tea. Freshly squeezed orange juice adds a natural sweetness and brightness that can’t be replicated by bottled juice. The zest, rich in essential oils, enhances the citrus aroma and provides an additional layer of flavor, so using organic oranges is ideal to avoid any pesticide residue.

Fresh rosemary is essential for infusing the tea with its distinctive earthy, pine-like flavor. Choose sprigs that are vibrant green and aromatic, avoiding any that are dry or wilted. Rosemary’s strong herbal notes contrast beautifully with the citrus, creating a complex and refreshing flavor profile.

Ginger is another key ingredient, adding a subtle heat and spicy undertone that complements the sweetness of the orange and the earthiness of the rosemary. Fresh ginger root should be firm and fragrant, with smooth skin and no signs of shriveling. Thinly slicing the ginger helps release its flavor more effectively during the infusion.

Finally, sugar is used to balance the flavors and enhance the natural sweetness of the orange. You can adjust the amount to your taste, leave it out, or replace it with stevia or another calorie-free alternative, depending on how sweet you like your iced tea. It’s important to add the sugar while the tea is still warm so that it dissolves completely, ensuring a smooth, consistent sweetness throughout the drink.

Ingredients for making 4 servings of Orange Rosemary Iced Tea:

• 4 cups water
• 4 black tea bags
• 1 large orange (juiced and zested)
• 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 2-3 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
• Ice cubes
• Orange slices and rosemary sprigs for garnish (optional)

How to Make Orange Rosemary Iced Tea

Instructions for making 4 servings of Orange Rosemary Iced Tea:

1. Boil the Water:
   • Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot.
2. Brew the Tea:
   • Once the water is boiling, remove it from the heat and add the black tea bags, fresh rosemary sprigs, orange zest, and sliced ginger. Let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on your desired strength.
   • Remove the tea bags and stir in the sugar, then set the tea aside to cool slightly.
3. Add the Orange Juice:
   • After the infusion has steeped and cooled down a bit, strain the rosemary sprigs, orange zest, and ginger slices. Stir in the freshly squeezed orange juice.
4. Cool and Chill:
   • Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it until fully chilled.
5. Serve:
   • Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled Orange Rosemary Iced Tea over the ice.
   • Garnish with orange slices and a sprig of fresh rosemary if desired.
6. Enjoy:
   • Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing and flavorful iced tea!

Tips & Variations

• Maple Syrup Sweetener: Use maple syrup instead of sugar for a rich, earthy sweetness that adds depth and a slightly woody and caramel-like flavor to the iced tea.
• Roasted Orange Zest: Lightly roast the orange zest before adding it to the tea for a deeper, slightly smoky citrus flavor that adds complexity to the drink.
• Spiced Orange Zest: Add a pinch of ground spices like cardamom or nutmeg to the orange zest before steeping for a warm, spiced aroma that complements the tea.
• Citrus Mix: Add a splash of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice along with the orange juice for an extra zesty, citrusy kick.
• Fruit Garnish: Add slices of fresh fruit like strawberries or peaches to the glass before serving for a burst of extra flavor and a colorful presentation.