Passionfruit iced tea is bright, tart and easy to make ahead. Dissolving honey while the tea is still warm prevents a layer of thick honey settling at the bottom of the jug.
Estimated serves: 4–6 Estimated preparation: 15 minutes plus chilling
Drink overview
This passionfruit iced tea combines brewed tea, passionfruit and honey in a chilled drink. Dissolving the honey while the tea is warm helps it distribute before chilling, creating a passionfruit-and-honey iced tea without a heavy syrup. Manuka can be used if its flavour suits the drink, but a high MGO grade is not required. Adjust sweetness and dilution to taste, especially if using sweetened passionfruit juice rather than fresh pulp.
Ingredients
- 4 black tea bags or 4 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea
- 750 mL just-boiled water
- 2–3 tablespoons honey, to taste
- Pulp of 3–4 passionfruit
- 250 mL cold water or sparkling water
- Juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
- Ice
- Mint leaves, optional
Method
- Brew the tea in the hot water for the time recommended for the tea, then remove the bags or strain the leaves.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons honey while the tea is warm. Taste and add more only if needed.
- Cool, then refrigerate until cold.
- Stir through passionfruit pulp, cold water and citrus juice.
- Serve over plenty of ice, with mint if using.
Can I use passionfruit juice?
Yes, but check whether it is already sweetened. Reduce the honey accordingly so the drink stays refreshing rather than syrupy.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Make the tea base a day ahead and add sparkling water and ice just before serving.
Can I use Manuka honey?
Yes. Choose a food-grade Manuka whose flavour you enjoy. A high MGO grade is not required for an iced drink. MGO measures methylglyoxal concentration, not flavour intensity.
For more cold drinks, see Iced Green Tea With Honey and Lemon and Homemade Honey Lemonade. Our Can You Put Honey in Tea? guide explains when to add honey.
Can babies have honey iced tea?
No honey should be given to infants under 12 months. Tea containing caffeine is also not an appropriate infant drink.
For accurate spoon conversions, see Honey Measurements.
Recipe note: This recipe has been developed for home cooking but has not yet been independently kitchen-tested by Australian Honey Company. Results may vary with ingredients, equipment and cooking conditions.