A glass of iced tea is always refreshing on a sweltering day, but it’s even better with fresh ingredients. Slices of lemon or strawberries certainly boost the beverage, but herbs are an underrated choice for elevating iced tea. To take your iced tea to the next level, infuse it with basil.
Peppermint is typically the chosen herb for iced tea, but basil serves as its milder, more layered counterpart. While it does have a subtle mintiness to it, there’s also a warm quality that provides tea with depth. Basil has notes of anise, giving it a sweet, peppery taste that’s still quite refreshing. There are various types of basil, and they all have differentiations that provide iced tea with a unique flavor. Sweet basil is the most common type, and it certainly lives up to its name. Along with the honeyed flavor, the herb’s citrusy taste also brightens drinks. If you want the tea to be a little more peppery, cinnamon basil’s warming taste is your best bet.
Whichever variety of basil you spring for, the herbs can flavor the iced tea the same way. You can simply add the rinsed leaves to the pitcher of tea as it chills, or make an infusion for a stronger taste. Steep the leaves in hot water for 10 minutes to an hour. Strain the water and allow it to come to room temperature before mixing it with the steeped tea and pouring the drink into a pitcher.
Pick your basil based on the kind of tea you’re making
Basil is definitely an ingredient that elevates iced tea, but matching the kind you choose to the type of tea you’re brewing makes the drink even more incredible. If you’re using sweet basil, pair it with a bright, fruit-forward brew like peach iced tea. The floral taste of the drink mirrors sweet basil’s citrusy taste, making the two the perfect summery cocktail. The hints of anise work well with peach tea, as well, giving the stone fruit a slightly richer taste.
For Earl Grey sweet tea, swap out peppermint with holy basil. Whether you use bergamot or lemon to make your tea, the tartness complements the aromatic taste of holy basil. The smooth tea gets a pungent kick from the herb, which has notes of clove, mint, and anise. Holy basil lacks the sweetness of other basils varieties, allowing it to provide Earl Grey iced tea with a more robust flavor.
Its pepperiness also works well with Long Thailand iced tea, but cinnamon basil’s sweetness is a better fit. As the name suggests, the herb has a warm, spicy quality that tastes similar to cinnamon. The sweet, heady herb elevates the rich taste of Thai tea, which is flavored with star anise, cardamom, and cinnamon.
