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Spring isn't too far off, and today we're sharing a peek behind our garden prep alongside our favorite recipe for classic iced tea!
For easier shopping, simply hover over the above image to click through and order Lipton Black Tea today!
Behold, a twisting tale of two seasons. On the one hand, it is the best of seasons, holding the promise of respite from the frigid clutches of notorious Northeastern snow and ice, drenched in the downpours of nor’easter rains. On the other hand, it is an unpredictable and fickle time of year, when you learn to take wrath and beauty, ice and warmth, summer leisure and winter toil, all in equal measure. A tale of Spring and Autumn in New York. Autumn in New York. It’s the subject of countless poems and musings surrounding the time of year when the memorial trees lining the sidewalks of ‘The City’ fade from rich green to their familiar autumn shades, colors immortalized in the words of countless songs and poems. Autumn in New York is the natural beauty of one of the world’s most famous and infamous concrete jungles, where cultural gurus in search of a ‘New World Paris’ have created masterpieces while living alongside mobsters plying their bloody trade. Surrounded by towers of steel and glass inhabited by mortal gods, beneath which swarm generations of faux-rebels, posh-dissidents, would-be artists, and beloved-misfits, there’s a certain magic in strolling along concrete dusted by brittle leaves of brown and gold, churned by the bit of chilled wind carrying the mixed odors of construction and the aromas of global cuisine. It’s predictable and beautiful, the familiar framing of an ever-changing scene at the modern crossroads of the world.
Spring in New York. Oh dear. 
To borrow a phrase from Humphrey Bogart in the Maltese Falcon “This is the stuff dreams are made of. Spring in New York promises a respite from notoriously harsh, icy, and above all damp North East Winters, but ultimately you never really know what you’re in for, and very often Spring in New York is more of a ‘hope’ or ‘wish’ than a reality. 
For example, when putting this post together, I fully intended on going out into my yet-untended garden, and spending a few much needed hours out in the still ‘pleasantly chilly’ air, turning over soil, and planning out the arrangement of my freshly bought flowers, and then outlining the results for you here today as I did last year. After all, the lion’s share of the fresh basil and mint that I use here on Living the Gourmet I grow myself, and I always like giving a few pointers on how I make that work. I even brewed some iced tea for the occasion. And then this happened. 
Snow, followed by true-to-form damp Northeast air. “Spring in New York is the stuff dreams are made of…” or something like that. The end result found my new plants sitting beneath my living room windows greenhouse-style, and left me sipping my iced tea by the bay-window, looking on in despair at the fresh layer of ‘spring snow’ blanketing my backyard. 
So, in case you’re wondering my currently soon-to-be outdoor plants are doing their level best to weather…the weather from the comfort of my living room as I write this. As for the tea you see in the pictures, I used Lipton 100% Natural Black Tea, which I always pick up during my supply runs to Walmart. As I’ve written here a few times before, growing up my father would only ever drink Lipton when he wanted tea, and today I’ve more or less fallen into that habit, due to its great, ever familiar, and blissfully reliable taste. Lipton is still America’s favorite tea for a reason. Recently, however, Lipton updated their look, but thankfully it’s a case of “New look, same great taste,” meaning that you’re getting the same great 100% black tea as before. For today’s post, I brewed it up plain, since I love the taste on its own, and using a pre-chilled pitcher, I combined the brewed tea with some fresh mint, a slice of lime, honey, and a wedged strawberry as garnish to sit on the edge of the glass as pictured below. 
Print
Classic Iced Tea
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 pitcher of iced tea 1x
Ingredients
- 64 ounces water (enough to fill a pitcher)
- 3-4 Lipton 100% Natural Tea Black Tea Bags
- Ice
- 1 lime slices
- 1/3 cup fresh sliced strawberries, plus some whole for garnish
- Fresh mint sprigs
- Honey to sweeten
Instructions
- Bring about 32 ounces of water to a boil with 3-4 tea bags. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Pour the steeped tea in a pitcher. Fill the rest of the pitcher with more water and ice.
- Add some slices of lime and 1/3 cup sliced strawberries.
- To serve, add some ice to desired glass and drizzle the desired amount of honey in each glass. Fill each glass with the prepared tea and serve with a fresh sprig of mint. For garnish, slice a strawberry down the middle and fit on the rim of each glass.
Notes
Prep time does NOT include inactive prep time
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-6
All in all, it was a thoroughly pleasant, if slightly less-than-according-to-plan afternoon. Don’t forget, Lipton is also conveniently available online at Walmart.com and check out the Ibotta offer below to earn $.75 on any one Lipton product at Walmart while supplies last! 
What are some of your plans for the spring? Or some of your favorite ways to serve tea? We would love to hear from you. Enjoy with love!
angiesrecipes says
I grew up drinking tea daily an I love it, but have never an iced tea :-// Yours sounds really amazing with strawberries.
DAVID J MYERS says
Catherine, My wife drinks a lot of iced tea...hot tea too. Like the idea of sweetening it with honey! Down here in the south, its all about sweet tea! It's not our thing but we probably would like it with honey. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Stacie says
Hooo boy, that sounds good. I live in Georgia, so of course, I'm all about the iced tea. I can't wait to try this!
Scott Gombar says
Everyone in my house loves Iced Tea except for me. I will share this with the rest of the family.
Danielle Wolter says
I'm not usually a tea drinker, but the lime and strawberries in this have got me excited. It sounds so refreshing!
Heather says
This is my go-to drink! I have iced tea on most days. Yum!
LEES d GARCIA says
I have always been a lipton tea lover. I honestly think there's nothing like it and it is so delicious and refreshing! thanks for the update !
annick says
aw lipton tea makes one of the best ice teas ever. Great photography too btw! The lighting goes really well with the feel of the post 😊
kumamonjeng says
I love lipton tea so this work so well for me. Need this to chill out for the hot afternoon.
Yeah Lifestyle says
You just can't beat a glass of iced tea! I love Lipton, always have some in the cupboard.
Kalyan Panja says
Looks like a nice and easy recipe to satisfy guests and friends. Thanks for sharing
Surekha Busa says
Wow, this black tea looks special alone, and adding lemon, strawberries and mint on it really make irresistible.
Alexandra Cook says
This looks so refreshing. I love tea and this is something that I would love to make.
Emmy says
I absolutely love this! Lipton black tea is my favorite tea, I literally just bought a big box the other day. I go through it so fast! I never thought to add honey, mint and lime. This will definitely step my tea game up. Trying this tomorrow!
Kisha Stewart-Harris says
Seeing this just reminds me of my grandmother and summer. Sometimes she'd make a big pitcher and let it steep out in the sun. Then she'd sweeten it before pouring it over a glass of ice. It was one of the most delicious drinks from my childhood. Yours looks just as good.
Sara Welch says
My husband is from Virginia and loves a good sweet tea! I'll have to make this tea for him; he's sure to love it!
Beth Pierce says
There is nothing better than a great glass of iced tea! This sounds cool and refreshing; thank you for sharing!
Va Anne Rome says
I love Classic Tea too!!! But I just find it too tedious to make, although I haven’t really
attempted at making one, haha.
Jessica May says
Beautiful photography, it makes the tea look so inviting. I need to get started on my garden as well!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
This just makes me think of summer!! I am so used to super sweet, sugary iced tea but I think I'd really prefer your version! Pinning for those hot summer days!
natalie says
Me and my husband drink a lot of tea, however I have never tried iced tea. It looks so refreshing!
rebecca says
ooo I've never tried adding fruit to tea- that looks amazing!
Anna says
I adore iced tea! There is nothing more refreshing than a glass of ice tea on a hot day! Bring on the summer!!!
Heather Perine says
I grew up in NY and yup grew up on fresh brewed Lipton iced tea! Love your twist on this though with the fruit and mint. Can't wait to try!
Bella and Dawn at Dear Mummy Blog says
We love Lipton Teas but never tried iced tea before! Must give it a go - thanks for showing us x
Sincerely Miss J says
I love Ice Tea. It is so refreshing in the summer time.
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
I love your photos here 🙂 There really is nothing better than having a big jug of homemade iced tea in the fridge. I need to try this recipe...it will be part of my weekend plans!
Jennifer says
I love making iced tea, it's my favorite!!!
Michelle says
First of all your photos are lovely! I stopped drinking hot tea ages ago but you are totally tempting me to try iced tea. It sounds so refreshing!
Pearl Rodrigues says
We love Ice Tea but never thought of topping it up with so much flavor. Love it that you've served it with strawberries, mint and lime. Makes it so much better
Karyl Henry says
I love that you add honey to the tea as you serve it. What a great way to add some natural sweetener to the tea, and brighten up the flavor
Lorie says
This brings me right back to summers in my childhood. You really can’t beat a good classic iced tea and my mom ALWAYS used Lipton.
Amanda Mason says
I am from the south and I grew up on Lipton iced tea. It's the only brand we ever bought! I love the addition of honey and lime and strawberries. Flavored tea is so good and it's so good when I can add in fresh fruit!! Great post! I enjoyed your snowy pictures!!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
Spring in Newfoundland doesn't hold any promise until late April, and it doesn't officially arrive here until late May or early June! Seriously, last year, we had a sprinkling of snow at the end of June! So I need this touch of spring right now. This looks like a refreshing beverage I would enjoy on my back deck during the summer!
mary anderson says
the good thing is you used honey instead of sugar and i think that's a smart way of making iced tea. honey doesn't only sweeten it but makes it better in taste. wonderful 🙂