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Two glasses of blackberry sage iced tea garnished with lemon and sage for summer party serving

Blackberry Sage Iced Tea

A stunning, refreshing iced tea made with juicy blackberries, fragrant fresh sage, a squeeze of lemon, and natural maple syrup. Ready in 15 minutes and perfect for summer parties, brunches, or quiet afternoons.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups water, divided
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
  • 10 fresh sage leaves
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey), adjust to taste
  • Ice cubes
  • Optional garnishes: extra fresh blackberries, sage leaves, lemon slices

Instructions
 

  • Steep the Sage: Bring 1 cup of water to a gentle simmer in a medium saucepan. (Keep the remaining 1 cup of water in the refrigerator.) Add the sage leaves and steep for 5 minutes.
  • Add the Blackberries: Add the blackberries to the sage-infused water. Return to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat. Use the back of a spoon to gently mash the blackberries and release their juices.
  • Strain and Sweeten: Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher or container, pressing the solids to extract all the juice. Discard the solids. Stir in the maple syrup (or honey) while the liquid is still warm. Add the cold cup of water, then stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  • Chill: Refrigerate the tea until completely cool, about 30-60 minutes. (For a quicker chill, place the pitcher in an ice bath.)
  • Serve: Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled tea over the top.
  • Garnish: Add a few fresh blackberries to each glass, tuck in a sage leaf, and place a lemon slice on the rim. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • For a stronger sage flavor, steep the leaves for up to 10 minutes before adding the berries.
  • For a smoother cold brew version, combine all ingredients (except ice) in a pitcher and refrigerate overnight. Strain before serving.
  • The tea base keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add ice fresh at serving time to avoid dilution.
  • To make it sparkling, replace the second cup of cold water with chilled sparkling water or club soda.
  • To scale up for a party, simply multiply all ingredients by the number of servings needed.
  • Honey can be substituted for maple syrup - stir in while the tea is still warm so it dissolves fully.