This homemade iced green tea lemonade recipe is light, tangy, naturally sweetened, and super refreshing — the ultimate drink to cool off on a hot summer day.
Some of my other favorite drinks: Best Hibiscus Tea Strawberry Lemonade, Pineapple Skin Tea, or Blueberry Lemonade!
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Some recipes don’t just fit into your summer—they become a summer habit, much like aguas frescas: simple, delicious, and something you find yourself craving again and again.
It’s easy, energizing, and so much more refreshing than anything store-bought.
If you love the Starbucks version, this Starbucks copycat recipe is lighter, fresher, and made with real, high-quality ingredients at home. And because you’re in control of the ingredients, it’s likely lower in grams of sugar compared to other sugary drinks.
It’s made with brewed green tea and fresh-squeezed lemons, and gives that gentle caffeine boost without the crash, plus all the antioxidant benefits.
It’s the kind of homemade lemonade recipe that just feels good to keep in the fridge all summer long.
Why this recipe works
- Green tea concentrate: Brewing strong green tea first lets the flavor shine through even when diluted with ice and lemonade. You get depth without bitterness.
- Fresh lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemons give a clean, bright tartness that bottled versions can’t match. They’re also packed with vitamin C, which supports collagen production for healthy skin.
- Natural sweetener: A touch of maple syrup, agave, or honey, if you’re not vegan, keeps it naturally sweet.
- Cold water + ice: Thinning with cold filtered water and lots of ice keeps it crisp, hydrating, and drinkable without being overpowering.
- Optional mint + fruit: Tossing in a few mint leaves or summer berries adds extra flavor layers.
What ingredients you’ll need
- Water
- Green tea bags – or loose-leaf green tea
- Lemons – you'll need about 4–6 lemons
- Maple syrup – you can also use agave, or honey (if you're not vegan)
- Optional: Ice cubes, fresh mint leaves, raspberries, or peach slices
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make this recipe (step-by-step)
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Brew green tea by steeping green tea bags (or loose-leaf) in hot water for a few minutes. Cool to room temperature.
In a large pitcher, combine brewed tea, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cold water.
Adjust flavor with more sweetener or lemon juice, depending on how tart or sweet you like it.
Chill for at least an hour or serve immediately over ice. Optionally, garnish with fresh mint, raspberries, or lemon slices if you want to fancy it up. Enjoy!
In the kitchen tips
- Brew green tea gently: Steeping green tea too long or in boiling water can make it bitter. Pull it off the heat just before boiling and steep only 2–4 minutes to keep it light, smooth, and slightly sweet.
- Stronger tea: If you love a stronger tea flavor, you can brew 3 green tea bags instead of 2.
- Cool the tea naturally: Let the tea cool at room temperature instead of shocking it with ice — rapid cooling can dull some of the delicate flavor compounds that make green tea refreshing.
- Juice lemons at room temperature: Lemons yield more juice when they’re at room temp. Roll them on the counter with your palm before cutting to break down the internal membranes and maximize the juice.
- Balance tartness before chilling: Cold dulls sweetness slightly. Taste and adjust your lemonade while it’s still room temp so it stays perfectly balanced once chilled.
- Serve over lots of ice, not in it: Pour lemonade over a full glass of ice right before serving. Ice inside the pitcher melts and waters it down faster.
- Mint isn’t just for garnish: Fresh mint leaves contain natural cooling oils like menthol — a few leaves added before chilling will infuse the lemonade with a subtle, natural cooling effect (even without adding extra flavor).
- Make it a sparkling lemonade: Substitute half the cold water with plain sparkling water right before serving for a fizzy twist.
Substitutions and additions
- Frozen berries: Throw in a handful of frozen berries (like raspberries or blueberries) instead of ice cubes. They chill the lemonade without watering it down.
- Make it minty: Add fresh mint leaves when mixing or muddle them lightly before serving for a mojito-style vibe.
- Flavor variations: Mix in fresh fruit like sliced strawberries, peaches, or mango chunks for a fruity green tea lemonade.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in a sealed pitcher for up to 3 days. Gently stir before serving, as the ingredients may settle.
Serving ideas
- Serve at picnics or BBQs for a naturally energizing alternative to sugary sodas.
- Pair with picnic foods like Garlic Lovers’ Pasta Salad, Healthy Cowboy Caviar, or a Chickpea Salad Sandwich.
FAQ
No — green tea tastes best when brewed with hot, not boiling water. Bring it just to a boil, then let it sit for 1 minute before steeping. This keeps it fresh, smooth, and avoids bitterness.
Yes! It’s rich in antioxidants, low in added sugars (if you control sugar content), hydrating, and made with simple ingredients.
You can use just about any brewed green tea you love! For the cleanest flavor, go with regular green tea without added flavors.
But I love to mix it up too and use green tea blends like Tazo Zen Green Tea, Yogi Green Tea, and The Republic of Tea Ginger Peach Green Tea.
Fresh-squeezed lemon juice makes a huge difference in flavor — it’s brighter, cleaner, and way less bitter. Bottled lemon juice usually tastes dull and processed, so fresh is highly recommended.
Green tea naturally contains caffeine, about 20–30 mg of caffeine per cup. It’s gentler than coffee and gives a smooth, steady energy boost without the crash.
If you’re looking for a stronger (but still smooth) energy boost, try my Iced Matcha Latte Recipes — another refreshing tea-based drink!
Absolutely. Mix it the day before for parties or meal prep. Just store it cold and give it a stir before serving.
Yes. Fresh lemons and brewed tea alone make a beautifully tart and clean-tasting drink.
I can’t wait for you to try this green tea lemonade! If you make it, tag @becomingyouwithjulie on Instagram — I’d love to see yours! And if you have a sec, a quick comment or rating helps more than you know. Thanks so much for being here! 💛
📖 Recipe
Iced Green Tea Lemonade
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Lemon squeezer
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups water, for brewing tea
- 2 green tea bags, OR 2 teaspoons loose-leaf green tea
- ⅔ cup lemon juice, adjust to your preference, I highly recommend freshly-squeezed for flavor
- ½ cup maple syrup, OR agave/honey (if not vegan!), adjust to your preference
- 3 cups cold filtered water, to add to the pitcher
- Optional add-ins/toppings: fresh mint, berries, or peach slices
Instructions
- Bring 2 ¼ cups of water just to a boil, then let it sit for about 1 minute. Add the green tea bags, cover, and steep for 2–4 minutes. Remove tea bags. Let cool to room temp (or pour over ice to speed it up).
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled green tea, lemon juice, maple syrup, and filtered cold water. Stir well, until fully combined. Taste at room temp and add more sweetener for a sweeter drink, or more lemon juice if you like it tangier.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or serve immediately over ice and garnish with fresh mint, berries, or peach slices if desired.
Notes
- I like to add a bit more of a lemonade kick and add a tablespoon or two more of lemon juice. But that’s the great thing about this drink— you can make it exactly how you love it!
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Steep green tea for 2–3 minutes for a lighter taste or up to 4 minutes for a bolder flavor—any longer can turn it bitter.
Nutrition
Julie Gaeta is a plant-based recipe creator, certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC) with advanced training in hormone health, trained yoga instructor, former restaurant owner, and mom of nine who’s been plant-based for over 20 years. She’s cooked approximately 4,382 pots of beans and reinvented comfort food more times than she can count. She’s completed multiple half marathons and a Tough Mudder because she can’t resist a new adventure — and apparently, she can’t vacation without cooking either, since her juicer (beets and greens, too) and pasta pot always come along. Julie’s work has been featured in HuffPost, Yahoo, YourTango, Mamamia, MSN, Redfin, Better Humans, and The Good Men Project. Through her blog, coaching, and weekly newsletter, she helps others simplify wellness, build lasting habits, and feel good again — one grounded, delicious choice at a time.
Julie Gaeta says
Iced green tea lemonade is one of those drinks I keep coming back to. Light, tangy, and chilled—so good on a hot day. Such an easy pick-me-up!