This iced rooibos tea is a fun and refreshing caffeine free drink perfect for summer! Easy to make, it takes just a few minutes of prep time and uses minimal ingredients.
I'm always on the lookout for iced caffeine free drinks come the spring and summer months, and this iced rooibos tea (also known as red bush tea) really fits the bill! It's full of flavor and has lovely nutty, sweet hints that I like to enhance with a touch of ginger for zing and maple syrup for sweetness.
Looking for some more summer drinks? I think you'll love my very popular blueberry mocktail, lychee mocktail and yeast free ginger beer for a refreshing treat!
And there are lots of other tasty caffeine free options such as my lemongrass ginger tea and many more in my low histamine tea and coffee alternatives round-up!
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⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Light and refreshing. A nice change from hot tea, brew up this rooibos iced tea for an afternoon treat on a hot day!
Caffeine free. Unlike English breakfast tea, rooibos tea (also known as red bush tea or red tea) is naturally caffeine free.
Simple to prepare. No tricky steps, just brew your tea and add some sweetener and optional ginger for some zing!
🍹 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Rooibos tea - personally I use tea bags, but you can use loose tea also. My low histamine readers will likely want to check the ingredients for any other additional ingredients that may not be suitable such as citrus.
- Ginger - this is optional, but a few slices of fresh ginger root give a nice flavor to the tea.
- Maple syrup - to add some sweetness. Adjust the amount to preference - add more if you have a sweet tooth!
📖 Swaps and variations
Add a squeeze of lemon juice. This adds a touch of citrus, but is likely not suitable for my low histamine readers.
Swap maple syrup for another sweetener. Both honey and agave syrup can be used instead!
🍯 Optional add-ins
Customise your iced tea with these optional additions:
- More maple syrup, agave syrup or honey
- A touch of milk or non-dairy milk
- Fresh mint leaves
- A squeeze of lemon juice (not low histamine)
🔪 How to make rooibos iced tea
Making this iced rooibos tea is very simple, with just a couple of steps.
Step 1
Brew the rooibos tea. Boil your water but let it sit for a minute or so, so that it isn't at boiling temperature. Add the rooibos tea bags to your heat-safe jug or pitcher, along with the ginger slices and maple syrup (image 1).
Pour the hot water into the jug, then use a spoon (or I like to use a cocktail muddler) to stir the mixture. Let the tea steep for 4-5 minutes, then remove the tea bags.
Allow the tea to cool, then chill in the fridge.
Step 2
Serve your tea. Pour the iced tea into your glasses, and add ice cubes to preference. Add in some apple slices or fresh mint to garnish, if you like. Then serve and enjoy!
💭 Expert recipe tips and notes
- Be sure to use a heat-safe jug or pitcher. Boiling water, or very hot water, can be problematic for some glass jugs and break it.
- Allow the water to cool slightly. It is advised (although debated!) by some tea brands not to use boiling water as it can scald tea. I suggest leaving your water for a minute or so after it has boiled before pouring onto the rooibos tea bags.
- Adjust the steeping time. If you like a very strong tea you can steep the tea bags for longer.
- Allow the tea to completely chill before serving. Place the jug in the fridge, then add ice for a refreshing caffeine free summer drink!
📋 Frequently asked questions
Rooibos tea has an earthy, nutty and slightly sweet taste.
Milk can easily be added to iced rooibos tea and gives a more creamy flavor and texture.
I suggest steeping the rooibos tea for 4-5 minutes. For a less intense flavor, steep for 2-3 minutes.
Rooibos tea is rated as low histamine on the SIGHI list, with a note to check the label for any added incompatible ingredients.
🥤 More fun drinks
Find so many tasty drinks, ranging from my popular honey ginger warm milk for a cozy afternoon treat to my fruity passion fruit mocktail for a fun summer drink. Some recent recipes to try out:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ or comment if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Iced Rooibos Tea
Equipment
- Heat-safe jug or pitcher
- Muddler or spoon
Ingredients
- 3 rooibos tea bags
- 2 slices fresh ginger root
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 5 cups boiled water
- apple slices optional
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Boil your kettle or a pot of water on the stove top. Allow to cool for a minute, so it isn't at boiling temperature.
- Add the rooibos tea bags, maple syrup and ginger slices to a heatproof jug or pitcher. Pour on the hot water and let the tea bags steep for 4-5 minutes. Use a cocktail muddler or spoon to stir, then remove the tea bags.
- Set the rooibos tea aside until it cools, then place in the fridge to chill.
- Pour into your serving glasses and add apple slices and mint leaves to garnish to preference.
Notes
- While you can use boiling water with rooibos tea, allowing it to cool for a minute helps ensure that you won't damage your jug (it's best to use a heat-safe jug or pitcher). It's also suggested by some manufacturers that it is best not to use boiling water as it can scald the tea.
- Add more ginger slices for a little extra zingy flavor.
- Allow to chill completely before adding ice and serving.
- ginger, which scores 1.
- rooibos tea scores 0, but as SIGHI note, check the ingredients label for any added unsuitable ingredients.
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