Starbucks Iced Passion Tea

starbucks_passion_iced_tea2

Does this drink look familiar? It must; it’s almost summertime. Nothing quenches your thirst like a venti-sized order of **no water added, sweetened Starbucks Iced Passion Tea.** Er..I guess a venti-sized order of a …. double-blended caramel frappuccino with extra caramel and extra whip quenches your thirst just as well.

Click here for the recipe for ‘Starbucks Iced Passion Tea’

Click here for the recipe for ‘Starbucks Iced Passion Tea Lemonade’

Starbucks — I know your iced teas are ridiculously easy to make, and you sell the Tazo brand teabags right at the counter, too!!! Then why-oh-why do countless others and I continue to buy your overpriced, pre-made iced tea? Are we that lazy?

Okay, let’s stop being lazy, people. Save yourself hundred$ a year and make your own passion iced tea at home. It’s amazingly simple, and you can make sure you don’t dilute your iced tea with too much water when you make it yourself. If it isn’t already obvious, Starbucks’ iced tea can be pretty diluted. I think you should make it yourself if you want to have it your way. If you have a cocktail shaker, that would be excellent for this drink. If you don’t, don’t fret — it’s not that big of a deal. I never believed “shaking” the tea really aerates or combines anything all that much. And there’s no need to dirty another dish in the kitchen.

I’ve also added a recipe for “Passion Tea Lemonade,” which is just equal parts brewed passion tea and prepared lemonade!

Here’s what you need:

DSC_0194

Tazo brand passion teabags, water, ice, and sugar. Seriously? That’s it?

I know, right?! Don’t buy anything other than Tazo brand. I really don’t think other knock-off passion teas can compare.

DSC_0197

So, let’s make one serving. Get one teabag ready and steep it with 1 cup of boiling hot water.

DSC_0199

Steep that for a good 5 minutes, please.

DSC_0200

As you’re waiting, you can make the “classic syrup.” That’s what Starbucks gives you when you ask for things to be “sweetened.” It’s essentially a simple syrup — just 2 parts sugar and 1 part water. Translation: 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon water.

DSC_0203

Now microwave that for about 25 seconds and stir. You should have a simple syrup. If you’re making a lot, go ahead and use a small saucepan on the stove for that. Set it aside.

DSC_0205

The tea is done steeping! Remove the teabag. So this was just for one single serving…

DSC_0246

If you want to make more servings, just remember: 1 cup boiling water per 1 teabag. Here I have 2 teabags for 2 cups boiling water.

DSC_0206

So here’s Starbucks’ mistake: they like to dilute the tea with more water. Even if you ask for “no water added” tea, the premade pitcher of tea is already kinda diluted, and I don’t like that at all. But if you do, then go ahead and add 1 cup of cold water to the 1 cup of brewed tea.

Otherwise, allow the 1 cup of brewed tea (with no additional water added) to cool at room temperature for 15 minutes! Remember: you can’t just ice it immediately and drink. That’s no bueno.

DSC_0209

So if you have a cocktail shaker, excellent for you. To the shaker, add a few teaspoons of classic syrup, the ice, and cooled brewed tea. Shake, shake, shake for some bomb shaken iced tea. If you don’t have one, no big deal. Just pour the cooled brewed tea over ice.

DSC_0210

Really, it’s not a big deal. I hope you’re not tsk-tsk-ing me.

DSC_0212

Here’s where we can add a few teaspoons of the prepared classic syrup, and stir with a spoon until totally combined. If you’re making passion tea lemonade, add 1 cup of prepared lemonade now, too. Serve immediately. Enjoy! It’s one of the best teas in the world. Avoid breaking the bank at Starbucks this summer and make your own inexpensive iced passion tea!

[print_this]

Starbucks Iced Passion Tea

Total time: about 20 minutes
Prep: 15-20 mins
Cook: 0 min
Yield: 1 serving
Level: Easy

Ingredients:
Water
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 single teabag of Tazo Passion Tea
Ice

Directions:
Set at least 1 cup of water to a boil.

To make sugar syrup: In a small microwave safe bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of water and 2 tablespoons sugar. Microwave bowl, uncovered, for 20-25 seconds on high. Stir mixture to dissolve sugar. Set aside.

Place teabag in a large heat-proof glass. Measure 1 cup of boiling hot water, and steep tea with hot water. Remove and discard tea bag after tea has steeped for 5 minutes. Set tea aside to cool at room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pour tea in a serving glass and top with desired amount of ice. Add a few teaspoons of sugar syrup into the glass, and combine well with iced brewed tea. Serve immediately.

[/print_this]

[print_this]

Starbucks Iced Passion Tea Lemonade

Total time: about 20 minutes
Prep: 15-20 mins
Cook: 0 min
Yield: 1 serving
Level: Easy

Ingredients:
Water
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 single teabag of Tazo Passion Tea
1 cup prepared lemonade
Ice

Directions:
Set at least 1 cup of water to a boil.

To make sugar syrup: In a small microwave safe bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of water and 2 tablespoons sugar. Microwave bowl, uncovered, for 20-25 seconds on high. Stir mixture to dissolve sugar. Set aside.

Place teabag in a large heat-proof glass. Measure 1 cup of boiling hot water, and steep tea with hot water. Remove and discard tea bag after tea has steeped for 5 minutes. Set tea aside to cool at room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pour tea and lemonade in a serving glass and top with desired amount of ice. Add a few teaspoons of sugar syrup into the glass, and combine well with iced brewed tea and lemonade. Serve immediately.

[/print_this]

Leave a Reply to Liz Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *