Watermelon & Lemon Verbena Iced Tea Recipe

Bring water to a simmer

Pour 6 cups water into a medium saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

Steep tea and verbena

Remove from heat. Add 4 black tea bags (or equivalent loose tea) and 2 tablespoons dried lemon verbena (or 6 fresh sprigs). Cover and steep for 6 minutes for a bright but not bitter brew. Taste after 5–6 minutes and remove tea bags/strain leaves when desired strength is reached.

Cool the tea: Transfer the steeped tea to a heatproof pitcher and let it cool at room temperature for 15–20 minutes, then refrigerate until cold (about 30–45 minutes) or proceed with iced assembly using chilled ice.

Prepare watermelon puree

Place 3 cups cubed seedless watermelon into a blender. Add a pinch of salt (to enhance fruit flavor) and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Blend until very smooth, about 30–45 seconds.

Strain (optional)

For a silky, pulp-free tea, pour the puree through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Discard pulp or reserve for smoothies.

Add lemon juice

Stir 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice into the strained watermelon juice. Taste and adjust sweetness with an extra 1/2–1 tablespoon sugar if desired — the black tea will balance the sweetness.

Mix tea and puree: Once the tea is cold, pour it into the watermelon-lemon mixture. Start with a 3:1 ratio of tea to watermelon juice (about 4 cups tea to 1 cup watermelon juice) and adjust to taste. Stir well to combine.

Chill: Refrigerate the combined iced tea until well chilled, at least 30 minutes. If you need it immediately, fill glasses with ice and assemble as directed below.

Assemble glasses

Fill tall glasses halfway with ice cubes. Pour the watermelon–lemon verbena iced tea over the ice, leaving space for garnish. Taste and add more lemon juice or sugar if desired.

Garnish

Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh lemon verbena, 1–2 thin lemon slices, and a few watermelon wedges or melon balls. Serve with a stirring straw so the drinker can re-mix if separation occurs.

Storage

Store leftover iced tea in a sealed pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Stir before serving. The vibrant flavor is best within the first 24 hours.