Iced tea with lychee—a luscious fusion of freshly brewed tea and succulent lychee. This summer treat is a burst of refreshing flavors combining the subtle sweetness of lychee fruit complemented with the cool, crisp, and clean essence of iced tea.
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What is Lychee?
Lychee is a tropical fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. It has a distinctive appearance, with a rough, reddish-pink outer skin that is peeled away to reveal translucent, juicy flesh inside.
Lychee fruit is known for its unique flavor, which can be described as sweet, floral, and slightly tangy. It is often enjoyed fresh as a refreshing snack or used in a variety of desserts, beverages, and dishes.
With its juicy texture and fruity taste, lychee is a popular choice during the summer months, offering a tropical and unique flavor experience.
Iced Tea with Lychee
Both lychee and iced tea are known for their refreshing qualities, making them a perfect match for a summertime beverage.
Lychee adds a touch of sweetness to the iced tea without overpowering it. This balance allows the flavors of both the fruit and the tea to shine through.
This will keep you cool and giddy and happy during the summers, I promise!
How to Make It
Step 1: Make the Tea
Make sure to use freshly boiled water when brewing the tea. Pour over a pot then add the tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes for a single serving and 10 to 15 minutes for a pitcher or more. The longer the steeping time, the stronger the tea.
Although I haven't done this myself, boiling the tea bags is not suggested. They say it can make the tea bitter and can also split or burst the bag.
Tip: As ice cubes are going to be added, consider adjusting the ratio of water and tea bags. Use one to two tea bags per 1 cup of freshly boiled water.
In this recipe, I used the 1:1 ratio which means 1 tea bag for 1 cup of water.
Step 2: Add Lychee
To create the drink, mix the brewed tea, and lychee syrup. It's recommended to follow the suggested measurements in the recipe and then adjust according to your taste preferences i.e. add more syrup for a stronger lychee flavor or just add sugar as a sweetener.
How to Serve
Fill tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour the cooled tea over the ice, leaving some space at the top for the other ingredients.
Drop a few lychee fruit pieces into the glass of iced tea. You can add as many as you like, depending on your preference for the amount of lychee flavor in the drink.
Use a long spoon or a stirring stick to gently stir the iced tea, incorporating the lychee fruit and syrup.
Optional garnishes: You can add a garnish such as a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon for an extra touch of freshness and presentation.
Serve the iced lychee tea immediately while it's still chilled.
Fresh or canned lychee?
When it comes to using lychee in drink recipes, canned lychees are often preferred over fresh lychees for a few reasons. Firstly, canned lychees typically come with a syrup that helps enhance the lychee flavor in the drink. Additionally, fresh lychees can be hard to find in certain regions.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this recipe, as it's one of my personal favorites on hot summer days. I've been making it for my family not only to beat the heat but also to balance out the spiciness of our meals. It has become my go-to drink when enjoying curry and other intensely flavorful dishes.
Cheers!
Types of Tea
In addition to the classic black tea, there are various other types of tea that you can explore for lychee tea. Consider trying green tea, Jasmine tea, and English breakfast tea. If you prefer to use tea leaves or loose leaves, I highly recommend following this brew guide.
Watch the video
More recipes with lychee
Complete Recipe
Lychee Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 4 bags black tea bags (note 1)
- 4 cups water (divided)
- 1 can 20 oz lychee in syrup
- sugar (optional, to taste)
- ice cubes
Instructions
- In a pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Turn off the heat, then add the tea bags. Let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Taste the tea, if you prefer a stronger tea flavor, steep longer up to 10 minutes. The longer the steeping time, the stronger the tea. Remove the tea bags.
- Add lychee syrup (start with 1 cup) and the remaining water and stir. Add more syrup or sugar depending on your taste preference.
- Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until needed.
Serve
- Add pieces of lychee fruit and ice cubes to a glass. Pour tea. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes and Tips:
- Black Tea - use good quality black tea for best results.
- Nutrition: This is an approximate based on the nutrition information of the canned lychee I used.
Originally published Apr 2019. Updated to streamline recipe.
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