Rose Iced Tea

5 from 1 vote

Made with 5 ingredients, this rose iced tea is perfectly sweet and refreshing. Get step-by-step instructions for brewing the perfect glass.

Prep Time2

Steep Time5

Total Time7

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: serving (16 ounces)

Author: Jee Choe

Put tea bags, chopped dried rose buds, and hot water into a teapot.
Boil water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Set water temperature to 195°F.
Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
Steeping for longer will make the tea bitter.
Discard tea bags and strain out rose buds. Stir in sugar until it dissolves.
To strain out the rose buds, pour hot tea from the teapot into a cup, using a mesh strainer. Pour hot tea back into the teapot.
Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to cool.
Pour cooled down tea into a cup with ice.

Any black tea can work for this drink, like English Breakfast tea.
Rose buds or rose petals can be used.
Tea bags and sachets make for quick and easy cleanup but you can also use loose tea. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of black loose tea instead of 1 tea bag. For this recipe, you'll need 1 tablespoon of loose tea.
The dried rose buds sold at flower shops are full of pesticides and not meant for eating. Be sure to purchase edible, food-safe petals or buds when making tea.
White sugar is used in this recipe, but any sweetener of your choice works.
Use the correct temperature and don’t oversteep the tea. The longer you brew it, the more astringent and bitter black tea gets.
Rose syrup can be used in place of the rose buds and sugar in the recipe.
Instead of sugar, sweeten the tea with syrups like hibiscus and strawberry for additional flavor.
Fresh fruit like cut strawberries make for pretty garnishes when serving this tea at a baby shower to bridal party.
Make a creamy, decadent drink by adding rose cold foam on top.
Use remaining dried rose buds to make rose syrup or rose bubble tea.