Refreshing Sugar-Free Iced Tea Latte

If you ask me, iced tea lattes are a brilliant way to enjoy your favorite tea.

This refreshing drink combines smooth black tea with creamy milk and a touch of sweetness, creating the perfect balance of flavors. The cold brew method keeps the tea from getting bitter, while letting all those lovely tea notes shine through.

I love how the milk adds a silky richness that turns a regular glass of iced tea into something special. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup rounds everything out perfectly.

It’s my go-to afternoon pick-me-up during warm weather, and it costs way less than what you’d spend at a coffee shop.

What Kind of Tea Should I Use?

While this recipe calls for breakfast blend tea, you can experiment with different black tea varieties to create your perfect latte. English Breakfast and Ceylon teas make an excellent base because they’re bold enough to stand up to milk without being too bitter. If you prefer something a bit more robust, try using Irish Breakfast tea, which has a stronger, maltier flavor profile. Just make sure to stick with black tea varieties rather than green or herbal teas, as they provide the right strength and classic taste you want in a tea latte. When brewing, let your tea steep for 3-5 minutes in hot (not boiling) water – any longer and you might end up with an overly bitter drink.

Options for Substitutions

This refreshing iced tea latte is pretty adaptable – here’s what you can switch up:

• Breakfast Blend Tea: While any black tea will work here, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, or Ceylon are great options. For a caffeine-free version, try rooibos tea. Just note that green tea might be too light for this recipe.
• Almond milk: Not a fan of almond milk? No worries! Use any milk you like – oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or regular dairy milk all work great. Just keep in mind that coconut milk might add a slight tropical flavor.
• Sugar-free vanilla syrup: You can swap this with regular vanilla syrup, maple syrup, or honey. If you don’t have vanilla syrup, try 2-3 tablespoons of your preferred sweetener plus ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Ice: For a smoother drink, try using coffee ice cubes (made by freezing cooled tea). Regular ice works fine too, but it might dilute your drink as it melts.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Brewing

The biggest mistake when making iced tea lattes is using water that’s too hot or steeping the tea for too long, which can result in a bitter, astringent taste – instead, let your water cool for about 30 seconds after boiling and steep for exactly 3-4 minutes. Another common error is adding the ice too quickly after brewing, which can make your drink watery and diluted – always let your tea concentrate cool to room temperature first, or better yet, make it ahead and refrigerate. To get the perfect creamy texture, don’t skip the important step of properly measuring your milk-to-tea ratio (about 3:1), and when adding your vanilla syrup, start with less than you think you need since you can always add more to taste. For the smoothest drink possible, try giving your almond milk a good shake before using it, as this prevents any separation and ensures a silky-smooth texture throughout your latte.

What to Serve With Iced Tea Lattes?

When it comes to pairing treats with an iced tea latte, you’ve got lots of tasty options that work really well with the sweet and creamy drink. A butter croissant or slice of banana bread makes for a perfect breakfast combo, giving you that cozy café experience at home. If you’re serving this as an afternoon pick-me-up, try it with some lemon shortbread cookies or a slice of coffee cake – the subtle sweetness pairs perfectly with the vanilla and tea flavors. For something a bit lighter, fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries make a refreshing side that won’t overwhelm the drink’s smooth taste.

Storage Instructions

Keep Cold: Your iced tea latte will stay fresh and tasty in the refrigerator for up to 2 days when stored in a sealed pitcher or container. The flavors actually blend together nicely as it sits, making it perfect for preparing ahead of time!

Make Ahead: Want to prep this drink in advance? Brew the tea and mix it with the vanilla syrup and almond milk, then keep it in the fridge without ice. When you’re ready to serve, just pour over fresh ice – this way your drink won’t get watered down. You can even make a bigger batch to enjoy throughout the week!

Serving Tip: If your tea latte has been sitting for a while, give it a quick stir before drinking as the ingredients might separate naturally. Don’t worry – this is totally normal and doesn’t affect the taste at all!

Preparation Time	5-10 minutes
Cooking Time	15-20 minutes
Total Time	20-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

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

• Calories: 50-100
• Protein: 2-4 g
• Fat: 2-4 g
• Carbohydrates: 10-20 g

Ingredients

For the tea:

• 6 fl oz hot water
• 4 sachets Numi Breakfast Blend Organic Tea

For the latte:

• 18 fl oz unsweetened almond milk
• 2 fl oz Torani Puremade Zero Sugar Vanilla Syrup (for a smooth, sugar-free sweetness)
• 2 cups ice (essential for a perfectly chilled latte)

Step 1: Steep the Tea

Start by steeping 4 NUMI Breakfast Blend Organic Tea bags in 6 ounces of hot water.

Use a tea kettle to heat the water, and allow the tea bags to steep for at least 15 minutes.

The longer you steep, the more intense the flavor will be.

Once steeped, remove the tea bags and compost them.

Step 2: Prepare the Glasses with Syrup

Take each glass and add 1 ounce of Torani Puremade Zero Sugar Vanilla Syrup.

This will create a sweet and aromatic base for your tea latte.

Step 3: Add Ice and Almond Milk

Fill each glass with ice, distributing it evenly.

Pour 8 ounces of almond milk into each glass, allowing the syrup to mix slightly with the milk as you pour.

Step 4: Incorporate the Tea

Measure out 3 ounces of the steeped tea into each glass.

If you prefer a stronger tea flavor, you can adjust the tea-to-milk ratio by reducing the almond milk quantity and using additional liquid during the steeping process.

You might need to use an extra tea bag to maintain the desired strength.

Step 5: Froth Almond Milk and Serve

Froth the remaining 2 ounces of almond milk until it reaches a light and foamy consistency.

Carefully spoon the frothed milk over the top of each glass to finish off your tea latte.

Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshingly creamy drink!