Rose Water Iced Tea Recipe

By
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.
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Updated on 02/1/23
Two glasses of rose water iced tea garnished with lemon.

The Spruce/Preethi Venkatram
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 3 hrs
Total: 3 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 2 to 3 servings

Rose iced tea gets its subtle rose flavor from rose water and dried rosebuds.

If you're not sure where to buy rose water, check out this guide to buying rose water. Dried rosebuds are usually sold as an "herbal tea" (tisane) and can be found in the bulk section of many health food stores or through many online tea and herb vendors.

Black tea is used in this recipe. Preferably, use Nilgiri black tea, which produces a delicately perfumed, crystal clear iced tea. And, for the honey, try to find Tupelo honey or another mild honey.

Ingredients

  • 3 teaspoons black tea leaves

  • 2 heaping teaspoons dried rosebuds

  • 2 cups boiling water

  • 2 teaspoons honey

  • 1/4 teaspoon rose water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make rose water iced tea

    The Spruce/Preethi Venkatram

  2. Brew the tea leaves and rosebuds in the boiling water in a Pyrex glass measuring cup for five minutes.

    Dried rosebuds and black tea leaves in a glass cup

    The Spruce/Preethi Venkatram

  3. Strain the tea using a fine mesh sieve set over a medium bowl. Discard the tea and rosebuds.

    Strained rose water tea in a glass bowl

    The Spruce/Preethi Venkatram

  4. Stir the honey into the tea. Chill the mixture for about three hours.

    Adding honey to rose water tea

    The Spruce/Preethi Venkatram

  5. Pour over ice, add rose water, stir and serve, adding more ice if needed.

    Adding rose water to iced tea

    The Spruce/Preethi Venkatram

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