Homemade Earl Grey Lavender Iced Tea Recipe

Earl Grey Lavender Iced Tea, classic elegance meets soothing tranquility with the addition of lavender to the classic Earl Grey. 

What could be better on a warm summer’s day than basking in the gentle breeze, and sipping on a glass of perfectly chilled tea? 

This blend of tea and nature combines the slightly citrusy flavor of Earl Grey with the delicate floral notes of lavender, poured over ice and topped off with your favorite sweetener. 

You can easily make this relaxing, soothing steeped tea drink at home to enjoy on a hot summer day. 

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Ingredients

To make Earl Grey lavender tea you only need a few simple ingredients:

 2 tablespoons of  Earl Grey loose-leaf tea or 2 earl grey tea bags. I find the loose-leaf teas are better quality and produce a better flavor.

 ½ teaspoon of dried culinary lavender buds. These can be found at health food stores or online. If you are lucky enough to grow lavender in your garden, you can dry your lavender flowers. 1/2 teaspoon will give you plenty of lavender flavor.

 2 cups of water. While you can use any water, filtered water gives you a clean, fresh flavor.

 Sweetener of choice (optional)

 Ice cubes

 Fresh lavender sprigs (for garnish)

Brewing Earl Grey Lavender Iced Tea

There are two ways you can brew this tea to get iced tea.

  Cold Brew Method

Tea sometimes has a bitter aftertaste. I find brewing iced tea using this cold brew method takes this bitterness away and deepens the flavor.

      1. Add loose-leaf Earl Grey tea or tea bags to a glass jar. 

      2. Add the dried lavender.

      3. Pour cold water over the tea and lavender.

      4. Cover the jar and place it in the refrigerator.

      5. Let the tea steep for 6 – 10 hours or preferably overnight.

      6. Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and use a tea strainer to pour the tea into the glass.

      7. If desired, add your favorite sweetener to taste and garnish with dried lavender sprigs. Try a little lavender simple syrup to sweeten the tea and boost the lavender flavor.

Hot Brew Method

You can also use the hot brew method and allow the tea to cool before pouring it over ice. Remember to use a heat-proof jar or steep it in a teapot and then pour it into a glass.

      1. Boil the water in a tea kettle or small saucepan.

      2. Add the tea and lavender to a heat-proof jar or teapot.

      3. Pour the hot water over the tea and lavender and allow to steep for 10 minutes.

       4. Strain the tea using a fine mesh sieve into another heat-proof jar and allow it to cool to room temperature.

       5. Place the jar in the refrigerator to finish cooling.

       6. Fill two glasses with ice and pour the tea into the glass.

       7. Stir gently to chill the tea thoroughly.

       8. Add sweetener to taste if desired.

Notes:

You can use a tea ball, reusable tea bag, or tea infuser to hold the tea and lavender while it steeps.

You can play around with the amounts of tea and lavender to find the strength of flavor you like best. 

Remember as the ice starts to melt it will dilute the tea. If you like a lot of ice, make the tea a little stronger.

Tips and Variations

 1. Experiment with ratios:

     Adjust the amount of tea and lavender based on taste preference.

2. Introduce citrus zest:

     Infuse the tea with lemon or orange zest for a zingy twist.

3. Sweetener alternatives:

    Try maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, stevia, or lavender syrup for unique tastes.

 4. Make it a mocktail:

     Mix in some sparkling water for a bubbly, non-alcoholic option.

5. Make an iced London fog drink:

     Add ½ cup of whole milk, 1 tsp of honey or other sweetener, and ¼ tsp of vanilla extract to a jar or bowl. 

Froth with a handheld milk frother. You can also use an electric frother if you have one. 

Top your Earl Grey lavender iced tea with the frothy milk and enjoy an iced lavender London Fog latte.