Three Perfect Bank Holiday Iced Tea Recipes

If you don't work in a place that is open on a Bank Holiday (*cough* Starbucks), then these Monday's are absolutely gorgeous, provided the sun is shining. A long weekend, a 4 day working week, an extra day off, it's just glorious. And there is no better way to spend a bank holiday than sunning yourself with friends, delicious drinks in hand, meat and veg cooking on the barbeque. Now, your drink of choice may be alcoholic, but personally, I am a massive fan of iced tea, which is why I've devised these delicious three recipes perfect for the bank holiday, a weekday evening, a weekend morning, pretty much any time!

Peach and Mint Iced Tea

Doesn't this look delicious in the picture above? Peach iced tea is my all time favourite drink from Starbucks, and this is a refreshing DIY version.

You Will Need:

• Four/five tea bags (depending on how strong you like it)
• Three peaches, cut into slices
• Small handful of mint
• Ice
• Cold water

Put the tea bags into a tea pot, pour over boiling water, and leave to brew for around 10 minutes. In a pretty pitcher, fill a third with cold water, add a generous helping of ice, the peach slices, and the mint. When the tea is brewed, pour it straight into the jug. Add more ice if needed, and chill in the fridge until you need it, to allow the flavours from the mint and peach to infuse the tea. Pour into glasses, add a cute straw, and enjoy!

Classic Mint Iced Green Tea

You simply cannot go wrong with minty iced green tea. It's a classic for a reason, and the flavours complement each other so well and make for a refreshing, delicious beverage that's actually good for you! 

You Will Need:

• Green tea. (4 bags if using bags, I actually used 5 teaspoons of loose leaf Gunpowder Green tea as it's used as the base of Moroccan mint tea, one of my favourites.)
• Couple handfuls of mint
• Honey (Optional)
• Cold and boiling water
• Ice

Add the green tea, whatever kind you are using, into a tea pot, crush half the mint in your hands, and add that in. Pour over boiling water, and leave to infuse for around 10 minutes. In a pitcher, fill a third with cold water, add a generous helping of ice, and add the rest of the mint. When the tea has stewed, add in the honey to the pot and stir thoroughly, before pouring the tea in to the pitcher. Be sure if you are using loose leaf tea to strain the tea through a sieve or tea strainer lest you end up with actual leaves in your drink! Chill in the fridge until needed to allow it to cool thoroughly, pour into glasses, add a straw, and enjoy.

Saucy Sangria Iced Tea

Whilst the ingredients (unfortunately) do not contain any actual alcoholic sangria, this is a refreshing alternative, flavoured with lime, orange, and honey for a boost of goodness whilst you sun yourself in the last of the summer sun.

You Will Need:

• Green tea (Again, use bags or loose leaf, whichever you prefer)
• 1 lime
• 1 orange
• Honey
• Ice
• Cold and boiling water

Add the green tea into a tea pot and pour over boiling water. Allow to stew for ten minutes. Whilst you are waiting, cut the lime and orange into wedges and put into a pitcher. Pour over a third cold water and add a helping of ice. When the tea is done, add the honey, stir thoroughly, and pour it into the pitcher, straining if necessary. Chill in the fridge to allow the flavours to infuse. When you are ready, serve and enjoy!

What's your favourite summer drink?

Bethany