Strawberry Cottage Bloom; Black Tea Version
This bold, floral black tea blend is layered with cozy strawberry sweetness and garden-gathered herbs. It’s the perfect iced tea for afternoon sipping and a signature part of our Strawberry Girl Summer series.
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 62kcal
Equipment
- 1 Tea kettle For boiling water
- 1 Fine mesh strainer or infuser To steep and strain the tea and herbs
- 1 Glass pitcher or mason jar For brewing and storing the tea blend
- 1 Measuring bowl To mix the dry ingredients evenly
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried chamomile flowers 21g
- ¾ cup finely chopped dried strawberries 48g
- ¾ cup dried rose hips 56g
- 1 cup loose leaf Earl Grey tea or 4 large tea bags 28g
- 8 cups boiled water 64 oz
- 8 cups cold water or ice 64 oz, for dilution
Instructions
- Combine the dried chamomile, rose hips, strawberries, and black tea in a large bowl.
- Mix well and store in a glass jar or container with a lid until ready to use.
- In a large heatproof pitcher, add the entire dry mixture.
- Pour 8 cups (64 oz) of freshly boiled water over the blend.
- Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea using a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids.
- Add 8 cups (64 oz) of cold water or ice to dilute and chill.
- Sweeten with honey or maple syrup if desired, starting with 1–2 tablespoons.
- Serve over ice or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a 4-cup teapot, use ¼ cup of the dry blend with 4 cups boiling water and follow the same steps.
Notes
This recipe makes one full gallon (128 oz) of tea using 8 cups of hot water to steep and 8 cups of cold water or ice to dilute and chill. You can also make a smaller 4-cup teapot batch using ¼ cup of the dry blend.
To prepare the full gallon:
- Use all dry ingredients listed in the recipe.
- Pour 8 cups (64 oz) of freshly boiled water over the tea blend and steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain well, then add 8 cups (64 oz) of cold water or ice to cool and dilute the tea.
- Taste and sweeten with honey or maple syrup if desired. Start with 1–2 tablespoons and adjust to taste.
- Use ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) of the dry blend per 4 cups (32 oz) of boiled water.
- Steep for 10 minutes, then strain and enjoy warm or over ice.
- Add sweetener if you’d like, starting with 1 teaspoon per cup of water and adjusting to your preference.
- For a stronger fruit flavor, stir in a spoonful of mashed fresh strawberries or a drop of natural strawberry flavoring before steeping.
- A squeeze of lemon or a sprig of mint can also brighten the finished tea.
- Keep leftover tea in a sealed jar or pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 240g | Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.2mg