Fresh mint tea is easy to make! You don't need tea bags - simply pour hot water over fresh mint leaves.
In the winter, I serve it hot, and in the summer, I turn it into a cool and refreshing iced tea.
Staring at the ten-day forecast for Memphis, Tennessee, the single-digit numbers I see remind me that I should stock fresh mint leaves in my fridge. 🥶
When it's so cold outside that you struggle to stay warm, even in a heated house, there's nothing quite like a mug of hot tea (or hot chocolate) to warm you up. Mint tea is as easy as can be - place mint leaves in mugs, fill the mugs with hot water, and let the tea steep for five minutes.
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Ingredients
Here's an overview of the ingredients needed to make this flavorful tea. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
- Water: You will need 24 ounces of water to make two mugs of tea.
- Fresh mint: Two sprigs for each mug plus more for garnish.
- Optional ingredients: honey and lemon slices.
Variations
- You can use other sweeteners, including maple syrup or liquid stevia.
- Sometimes, I replace the lemon slices with orange slices.
- For a more robust flavor, add a peppermint tea bag to each mug when steeping the mint leaves.
Instructions
Here's an overview of the steps for making this tea. The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below.
Boil the water in a kettle or a saucepan.
Gently roll the mint leaves between your fingers to help release their fragrant oil. Place two sprigs in each mug.
Carefully pour the boiling water into the mugs. If needed, gently push the mint springs into the water.
If using, stir in a teaspoon of honey into each mug.
Let the tea steep for 5 minutes. Remove the wilted mint leaves. If desired, replace them with fresh leaves for a pretty garnish. If using, drop a slice of lemon into each mug, then serve.
Iced Mint Tea
To turn your hot tea into iced tea, after steeping it for five minutes, remove the mint leaves and refrigerate the tea for 30 minutes.
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the chilled tea from both mugs into the glass. You can add fresh mint leaves to the glass as garnish. If using, add a lemon slice.
Iced tea is typically served in taller glasses, so you'll get one serving. Double the recipe if you need two servings.
Expert Tips
- Please don't skip rolling the mint leaves with your fingers. This step helps the leaves release their oils, ensuring the tea is flavorful.
- Do steep the tea for the full five minutes to prevent it from being too bland, but don't steep it for longer than ten minutes, or it could become bitter.
- I don't usually sweeten drinks, but I like to add honey to this tea. It enhances the tea's flavor and counteracts any bitterness. A teaspoon per mug is more than enough.
- Instead of mugs, you can make the tea in a glass pitcher if it's suitable for hot water.
Recipe FAQs
Both versions are excellent! I enjoy it hot in the winter and cold in the summer.
Not to this tea. If you make Pudina Chai, which is popular in India, you can add whole milk. Pudina tea is made with tea powder in addition to mint leaves, so it's more robust and better suited for added milk.
You probably steeped it for too long. Five minutes is ideal. Even if you want a stronger tea, don't steep it for longer than ten minutes, or it could become bitter.
1. Roll the mint leaves between your fingers to help them release oil.
2. Steep the tea for at least five minutes (to maximize flavor) but no longer than ten (to prevent bitterness).
3. Add a teaspoon of honey.
4. Drop a slice of orange into the tea.
Serving Suggestions
As shown in the photo below, I usually serve this tea as an afternoon pick-me-up with a few squares of dark chocolate or Lindor truffles. It's also excellent with these almond flour cookies.
Storing Leftovers
To keep leftovers, strain the tea to ensure no mint leaves are left. Place it in a pitcher or a jar and cover. You can keep it in the fridge for up to a week. Serve it iced or heat it on the stovetop or (carefully) in the microwave.
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Recipe Card
Mint Tea Recipe (Hot or Cold)
Ingredients
- 3 cups water - (24 fluid ounces)
- 4 sprigs fresh mint leaves - Plus 4 more sprigs for garnish
Optional:
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 slices lemon
Instructions
- Boil the water in a kettle or a saucepan.
- Gently roll the mint leaves between your fingers to help release their fragrant oil.
- Place two mint sprigs in each mug.
- Carefully pour the boiling water into the mugs.
- If needed, gently push the mint springs into the water.
- If using, stir a teaspoon of honey into each mug.
- Let the tea steep for 5 minutes.
- If using, drop a slice of lemon into each mug, then serve.
To make iced tea:
- After steeping the tea for 5 minutes, remove the mint leaves and place the tea in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.Â
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the chilled tea into the glass.
- Add fresh mint leaves for garnish.
- If using, add a lemon slice, then serve. Iced tea is typically served in taller glasses, so you’ll get one serving. Double the recipe if you need two servings.Â
Video
Notes
- Please don't skip rolling the mint leaves with your fingers. This step helps the leaves release their oils, ensuring the tea is flavorful.
- Do steep the tea for the full five minutes to prevent it from being too bland, but don't steep it for longer than ten minutes, or it could become bitter.
- I don't usually sweeten drinks, but I like to add honey to this tea. It enhances the tea's flavor and counteracts any bitterness. A teaspoon per mug is more than enough.
- Instead of using mugs, you can make the tea in a glass pitcher if it's suitable for hot water.Â
- To keep leftovers, strain the tea so that no mint leaves are left. Place it in a pitcher or a jar and cover. You can keep it in the fridge for up to a week. Serve it as iced tea or heat it on the stovetop or (carefully) in the microwave.
Nutrition per Serving
Disclaimers
Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 
Brianna
Delicious and refreshing! I made the iced tea version. Will definitely make again.
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm glad you enjoyed this tea, Brianna! Thanks for the review.