Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea

This thirst-quenching Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea recipe is super-easy to prepare! Use fresh or frozen pineapple chunks and your sweetener of choice! {Vegan + GF}

Black tea + pineapple = SIGN ME UP. Friends, I caught onto this Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea recipe while reading a Murder, She Wrote novel, Aloha Betrayed. Jessica Fletcher made her way through Hawaii, solving crimes all the while drinking her pineapple iced tea like nobody’s business. And I thought, does that recipe actually exist or is it for the benefit of the story? Pineapple iced tea does actually exist, and it is incredible. K-Hubs and I may not have trekked through Hawaii, slurping our tea like Jessica did. But we did slurp our way through the summer with this tantalizing goodness in hand. And it was delightful.

Now we are sharing it with you, because what’s good for Jessica Fletcher is clearly good for us, too. This particular recipe blends the sweet bouquet aroma of black tea with the sweet citrusy flavor of pineapple for an overall satisfying result. Neither too heavy nor too light, Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea is an ideal way quench your thirst.

So let’s steep a batch!

HOMEMADE PINEAPPLE ICED TEA INGREDIENTS

Below are the ingredients to make your own Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea. There are multiple ways to mix and match the ingredients to get the best flavor. So play around with the recipe to see what you like best.

• Black tea. I use basic black tea that comes in little tea bags. And I use a few more tea bags than I do cups of water so that the flavor is slightly more intense. However, that’s a personal choice. For a milder flavor, add more water. One of the many reasons to love this recipe is you can customize the flavor by adjusting the tea : water ratio.
• Pineapple. While I like to work with fresh pineapple the most, frozen pineapple chunks will also do the trick. If thawing ahead of time, make sure to keep the juice and add it to the tea for a sweeter flavor.
• Agave nectar. I love using agave nectar in this recipe because the sweetness most closely complements the pineapple tea flavor. However, you can also use stevia or honey, if you’d like.
• Baking soda. To reduce the bitterness of the tea, add a dash of baking soda. Even a small amount will do the trick. I would love to take credit for this incredible hack, however I discovered it via Becky Hardin over at The Cookie Rookie through her recipe for Skinny Pineapple Sweet Tea. 

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE ICED TEA:

It’s quite simple to make your own batch of Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea. For a balanced flavor, don’t steep the tea too long.

1. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan and then remove from heat. Add tea bags to the water, cover the saucepan and let steep for about 3-5 minutes. NOTE: The longer the tea steeps, the more bitter it will be. A few minutes is all that is necessary for a typical tea flavor.
2. Transfer the tea to a large mixing bowl and stir in the baking soda and agave nectar. Then pour the pineapple chunks, along with any pineapple juice, into the bowl. Refrigerate for at least four hours (I’ve even let the pineapple soak in the tea overnight, and it was delicious).
3. Remove the pineapple chunks from the tea, pour the tea through a mesh strainer, and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

BEST PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH FROZEN PINEAPPLE:

For the sweetest flavor, fresh pineapple is best. However, for a delicious batch of Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea in the off season, frozen pineapple chunks will also work. Below are a few tips to get the right flavor.

• Let the frozen chunks thaw first before adding them to the tea. Make sure to also include any pineapple juice, as well.
• If adding frozen pineapple chunks directly to the tea, let the mixture steep longer than four hours.
• Use frozen pineapple chunks as ice cubes. This is just one awesome way to sweeten up your tea without watering it down.

And if you are in the mood for more tea recipes, then you might also enjoy these, too!

• Lemon Ginger Tea
• Dairy-Free Chai Tea
• Cinnamon Orange Tea

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