Fresh Mango Iced Tea

If you ask me, iced tea is the perfect drink for those hot summer days.

This refreshing mango twist on classic iced tea brings together sweet fruit and smooth black tea in the most wonderful way. The natural sweetness of ripe mangoes blends seamlessly with the familiar comfort of freshly brewed tea.

It’s super easy to make – just brew your favorite black tea, add fresh mango puree, and let it chill until it’s ice cold. A squeeze of lemon and a touch of honey round out the flavors perfectly.

It’s the kind of drink that makes everyone happy, whether you’re serving it at a backyard BBQ or just enjoying it on your porch on a sunny afternoon.

What Kind of Mango Should I Use?

For mango iced tea, you’ve got several good options when it comes to choosing your mangoes. The Ataulfo (also called honey or champagne) mango is perfect for this drink because it’s super sweet and has minimal fiber, making it easy to puree. Tommy Atkins mangoes, which are the most common variety found in US grocery stores, work well too – they’re a bit more fibrous but still make a tasty puree. If you’re short on time or can’t find ripe mangoes, frozen mango chunks are totally fine and actually super convenient since they’re already peeled and cut. Just make sure your mangoes (whether fresh or frozen) are ripe and sweet – if using fresh, they should give slightly when gently squeezed and smell sweet at the stem end.

Options for Substitutions

This refreshing drink is pretty adaptable – here’s what you can switch up:

• Mango puree: If mangoes aren’t available, try using peach, nectarine, or even pineapple puree. Just make sure to strain out any fibrous bits. You can also use store-bought mango nectar, but reduce the added sweetener since it’s usually pre-sweetened.
• Black tea bags: While black tea gives the best classic taste, you can experiment with green tea or even rooibos for a caffeine-free version. Just adjust the steeping time according to the type of tea (green tea needs only 2-3 minutes to avoid bitterness).
• Honey: Any sweetener works here – try maple syrup, agave nectar, or plain sugar. If using stevia or artificial sweeteners, start with a small amount and adjust to taste since they’re much sweeter than regular sugar.
• Fresh/frozen mango: Both work equally well, but if using frozen mango, let it thaw completely and drain any excess water before pureeing to keep the drink from getting watery.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making mango iced tea is using boiling water directly on the tea bags, which can make your tea bitter – instead, let the water cool for about 30 seconds after boiling before steeping your tea bags. Another common error is not chilling the tea completely before adding the mango puree, which can result in a watery, diluted drink – make sure to let your tea cool to room temperature first, then refrigerate until completely cold. For the best mango flavor, avoid using underripe mangoes as they can be too sour and fibrous – choose mangoes that yield slightly to pressure and have a sweet aroma at the stem end. If you’re using frozen mango, thaw it completely and blend until super smooth to prevent any icy chunks from forming in your finished drink.

What to Serve With Mango Iced Tea?

This refreshing mango iced tea pairs perfectly with light summer snacks and meals! For a casual afternoon treat, serve it alongside some cucumber sandwiches or fresh fruit skewers – the tropical mango flavor goes especially well with other fruits like pineapple and strawberries. When hosting friends for lunch, I like to pair this drink with chicken salad croissants or a plate of coconut shrimp, which complement the sweet and fruity notes of the tea. You can also serve it with spicy foods like Thai curry or Mexican dishes, as the cool sweetness helps balance out the heat.

Storage Instructions

Keep Cold: Your mango iced tea will stay fresh and tasty in the refrigerator for up to 3 days when stored in a sealed pitcher or container. The flavors actually blend together nicely after a day, making it even more refreshing!

Prep Ahead: Want to get ahead? Make a bigger batch of the tea base and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just add fresh mango puree and give it a good stir. This way, you’ll have cool drinks ready to go whenever you need them.

Serve: Give your tea a quick stir before pouring, as the mango puree might settle at the bottom. Add ice cubes just before serving to keep it from getting watered down. If you find it’s gotten a bit strong in the fridge, just add a splash of cold water to adjust the taste.

Preparation Time	15-30 minutes
Cooking Time	5-10 minutes
Total Time	30-40 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 100-150
• Protein: 0-2 g
• Fat: 0-1 g
• Carbohydrates: 25-35 g

Ingredients

• 2 cups hot water
• 2-3 black tea bags (I prefer Lipton black tea)
• 1 cup mango puree (made from ripe, sweet mangoes for best flavor)
• honey or sweetener, to taste

Step 1: Prepare the Mango

If you are using frozen mango chunks, take them out of the freezer and allow them to thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

For a fresh ripe mango, peel it and cut it into chunks.

Place the mango chunks into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

Step 2: Brew the Black Tea

Boil some water and pour it over black tea bags.

Steep the tea, covered, for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.

After steeping, remove the tea bags from the water.

Step 3: Combine Mango Puree with Tea

Add the mango puree to the steeped black tea, mixing thoroughly.

The mixture should consist of about 2 parts tea to 1 part mango puree.

Cover the combined mixture and refrigerate it for about half an hour until it cools down.

Step 4: Strain the Tea Mixture

Once the tea mixture is cool, strain it through a sieve or cheesecloth to remove any remaining mango pieces.

Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the mango remains to ensure all the mango flavor is captured in the tea.

Step 5: Sweeten and Serve

Taste the strained mango tea and sweeten it to your preference with your choice of sweetener.

Serve the refreshing mango tea over ice for a cool, tropical drink experience.