Fruit Tea Recipe - Refreshing Punch Like Beverage from the South (2024)

by Patti Estep 8 Comments

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This recipe for a refreshing fruit tea punch is a treat I remember from living in the south. Great for a brunch, baby, or bridal shower punch. Try it alone or with your favorite liquor.

Fruit Tea Recipe - Refreshing Punch Like Beverage from the South (1)

When we lived in Nashville for a short time we enjoyed some of the best fried chicken and barbecue I've ever tasted. And of course, I had tasted those delicious items before, to know that these were really good. However, one thing that I never had before was Fruit Tea. Not to be confused with Sweet Tea, this recipe is sweetened with real fruit juice, and pretty adaptable to suit your preference.

I'm not a big fan of iced tea. It's a little bitter tasting, and adding lots of sugar to it just doesn't help. However, I really love the flavor of this drink, with the added benefit of caffeine, from the black tea.

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How to Make Southern Fruit Tea

You start with brewing regular tea bags like you were making tea. I used Lipton black tea here. However, you could use green tea bags or herbal tea if you want.

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Let cool and pour into a pitcher.

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Then you add the fruity flavor with fruit juice concentrate and lemonade. Some recipes also add sugar, but you really don't need it. You also don't need to use concentrates. Bottled juice or freshly squeezedlemon juice or lime juice would be fantastic in this drink.

My husband often orders an Arnold Palmer when we go out to eat, which is a 50-50 mix of iced tea (usually unsweetened) and lemonade. This is very similar only you add orange juice, and pineapple juice in addition to lemonade. Some also add a touch of cinnamon or whole cloves.

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It's really that simple.

Serve the fruit tea on a hot summer day with lemon slices and fresh mint for a fancy refreshing drink everyone will enjoy.

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More Tea Drink Recipes

  • Hot Fruit Tea Mix
  • Herbal Infusions
  • Christmas Morning Tea Blend
Fruit Tea Recipe - Refreshing Punch Like Beverage from the South (8)

Fruit Tea Recipe - Refreshing Punch Like Beverage from the South (9)

Refreshing Fruit Tea Recipe

Here's an easy recipe that combines black tea with fruit juices to create a delicious fruit tea. The perfect drink for summer parties, any family gathering, ladies' luncheon, brunch, or shower.

4.34 from 42 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2 quarts

Calories 26 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 bags of black tea steeped in boiling water for 5 minutes
  • 6 oz can of frozen lemonade concentrate
  • 6 oz can of orange-pineapple frozen concentrate

Instructions

  • Brew four black tea bags into 4 cups of boiling water.

  • Let cool, then pour into a 2 quart (1/2 gallon) pitcher.

  • Add lemonade and orange-pineapple frozen concentrate.

  • Stir until all the frozen concentrate is mixed in.

  • Add water to fill.

  • Serve on ice and garnish with lemon or orange slices and mint leaves.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 26kcalCarbohydrates: 7gSodium: 2mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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About Patti Estep

Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Iris

    Do you use family size tea bags or single size? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Iris, the single size is what I use.

      Reply

  2. Lois

    What size tea bags are you using? Trying it this weekend. thanks.

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Lois, I just use standard square Lipton tea bags.

      Reply

  3. BenStillerfa*ggot69

    I make my fruit tea similar to yours but I leave out the lemonade, and I add sugar (1/2 - 1 cup per gallon). I may add lemonade next time though, because it sounds pretty good.
    As for your sweet tea tasting bitter, that's because you're boiling it. Never boil tea! Let it heat to just below boiling for 15 minutes and you'll have great sweet tea.

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Good to know Ben. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

  4. Karen

    This looks delicious, Patti. We adore iced tea here - mostly sweet. Sometimes we mix in lemonade, but the concentrate would make it so much more flavorful. I can't wait to give this a try - perfect for a hot summer afternoon.

    Reply

  5. CD Loken

    Oh my goodness, Patti! Your fruit tea sounds so delicious and refreshing! This would be the perfect co*cktail on a hot summer night! I can't wait to try your recipe!

    Reply

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Fruit Tea Recipe - Refreshing Punch Like Beverage from the South (2024)

FAQs

What is sweet tea from the south? ›

Southern-style sweet tea is freshly brewed black tea that's sweetened with sugar while hot, chilled until cold, and served over ice.

Why do Southerners put baking soda in tea? ›

The Secret to Clear Tea

However, Southerners know that one addition can keep your tea looking clear and tasting smooth—and that addition is baking soda. Surprised? Stay with us. The secret to the clearest, smoothest glass of sweet tea is just a pinch of baking soda.

What is tea punch made of? ›

In a pitcher, combine sugar and tea. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in orange juice, pineapple juice and lemonade. Chill in refrigerator for 4 hours.

How to make fruit tea taste better? ›

Juicy peaches are also an excellent natural sweetener and flavour enhancer for a variety of green and black tea! If adding fruit still doesn't give you the desired flavour, try mixing in a few tablespoons of fruit juice or puree.

What tea is popular in the South? ›

In the U.S. south a regional favorite called sweet tea – which is brewed, sweetened, and chilled in advance of consumption – may be served at all meals and throughout the day as an alternate to other beverages.

What is the tea that South Americans drink? ›

This bitter, caffeinated tea is increasing in popularity beyond South America – and footballers like Lionel Messi have been helping to spread it around the world.

Why do people in the South like sweet tea? ›

Theories abound: Southerners prefer sweet tea because back in the day we used sugar as a preservative and our palates grew to crave the taste. Southerners like sweet tea because it is served ice cold and it is hot as biscuits down here.

How do Southerners like to drink their tea? ›

Order an iced tea in a restaurant in the South and what's in your glass is drastically different than what you'll get above the Mason-Dixon line. Our beverage of choice is best brewed strong and served in a tall glass with lots of ice and real sugar.

Is baking soda in tea good for you? ›

Some people claim that drinking baking soda is generally beneficial for health. However, there is little scientific evidence to support this.

What is fruit punch flavor made of? ›

What fruits are in fruit punch? Hawaiian Punch hit the market in 1934 as an ice cream topping. While it dropped the alcohol, it stuck to the five-ingredient formula and consisted of orange, pineapple, passion fruit, guava, and papaya.

What are the three ingredients in a fruit punch drink? ›

In a fruit punch drink, the 3 ingredients are apple juice, orange juice and cranberry juice. If 1 3 of the drink is apple juice and 1 2 is orange juice then write the ratio of cranberry juice to apple juice to orange juice in its simplest form. See what the community says and unlock a badge.

What is fruit punch made of? ›

Commercial manufacturers distribute many types of "fruit punch" beverages. These are usually colored red. Despite the name, most brands contain only a small fraction of actual fruit juice; the major constituents are typically sugar or corn syrup, citric acid, and artificial flavors.

Should you put sugar in fruit tea? ›

We call it "tea" for convenience, but fruit tea is not from the tea plant (camellia sinensis) at all! Its simply dried fruits, sometimes with spices or flowers and herbs added, the fancy name for this is a tisane. It's certainly good for you in many ways unless lots of sugar is added, which isn't necessary!

Can you make your own fruit tea? ›

By drying citrus, apples, raspberries, strawberries and herbs, you can compose your favourite tea with natural additions any time of year. Not only do you save money, but you also have full control over the quality of the drink you are drinking.

How is fruit-flavored tea made? ›

Making fruit tea really is very simple; essentially they are made by taking and mixing a blend of dried fruit, herbs, leaves, blossoms and petals etc. It's the hot water that creates the magic though, it extracts the flavor from the ingredients, which is why making an iced fruit tea still requires hot water initially.

Why is southern sweet tea different? ›

Still, there's a balance to the flavor—the tea is brewed long and strong, so it gets an astringency that can only be countered by lots of the sweet stuff. Southerners, of course, have a taste for sugar that is demonstrably stronger than what you find up North.

What is the difference between Southern sweet tea and regular tea? ›

The key distinction lies in their sweetness level and flavor profile. Sweet tea, a beloved Southern tradition, is brewed with tea leaves and sweetened with sugar while it's still warm. This process allows the sugar to fully dissolve, creating a sweet and refreshing drink.

Why is it called Southern sweet tea? ›

One of the reasons why the southerness of this drink has been so strongly and clearly established is the way in which southern people place such importance on their traditions. Once sweet tea grew in popularity towards the end of the 19th century, it was quickly established as a southern tradition.

Did sweet tea originate in the South? ›

While the roots of tea are traced back to Asia, the roots of adding sugar to tea can be traced back to Great Britain, Senegal, and India. Many tea drinkers enjoy a very sweet tea. The roots of sweeten tea with ice though was purely a southern idea and is now a southern tradition!

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