My delightfully simple, perfectly sweet Mango Iced Tea looks and tastes like sunshine in a glass. Made with just 4 simple ingredients in just 10 minutes, this fantastically fresh mango tea is in the running for my favorite summer drink!
I’ve been on something of a fruit tea kick lately—see my fresh strawberry iced tea and iced peach green tea as evidence of my newfound passion. 😂This DIY Lipton mango iced tea is just the newest addition to the lineup, and if you’re a fan of the tropical fruit, you’re sure to love it.
Since it’s made with black tea, it has a moderate caffeinated kick—ideal for a midday pick-me-up. But this isn’t any ol’ sweet tea, friends. The addition of mango nectar makes it absolutely top notch. Plus, that color? MANGO-NIFICENT.
Whether you’re planning a pool party, a BBQ, or just want to shake up your hydration routine, my mango iced tea recipe is sure to make your summer a little sweeter. Cheers!
Jump to:
What does it taste like?
This iced mango tea is sunshine in a glass. The bold, slightly tannic edge of black tea provides a refreshing foundation, perfectly balanced by the rich, golden sweetness of mango nectar. The fruitiness is tropical without being overpowering—think juicy, ripe mangoes at their peak, with just enough brightness to lift the tea without masking its flavor.
A touch of simple syrup rounds it all out, softening the tannins and adding a gentle sweetness that lingers between sips. It’s crisp, vibrant, and just the right kind of sweet—like a tropical breeze on a hot afternoon.
Why You’ll Love This Mango Tea Recipe
- Quick & Easy - All you need are 4 basic ingredients, and my sneaky ice water hack means it’ll be ready for drinking in just 10 minutes or less!
- All-Natural - If you buy Lipton iced tea in a bottle, you may be signing up for more than you asked for—sodium hexametaphosphate, malic acid, potassium sorbate, “natural” flavor (it’s anything but natural), acesulfame potassium, and calcium disodium EDTA all sound like scary science projects to me. Luckily, my DIY version is made with just black tea, water, sugar, and mango nectar.
- Cautiously Caffeinated - When the 3 o’clock slump hits I usually need a bit of oomph to get me through, but most cold brew recipes are a little high-octane for so late in the day. Sweet iced tea drinks are the perfect compromise, offering roughly half the buzz of an iced coffee.
Ingredients Needed
- Black Tea Bags - I think Lipton is the best black tea for iced tea, as is inexpensive and widely available. Feel free to use whichever brand you like!
- Water - Start with filtered water for the best-tasting results.
- Simple Syrup - This liquid sweetener is easier to incorporate than granulated sugar. Not sure how to make it? It’s just equal parts sugar and water mixed until uniform.
- Mango Nectar - This is basically just sweetened mango juice that’s a bit thicker than regular juice. You can usually find it near the shelf-stable juices.
Substitutions
- Black Tea Bags - Only have loose-leaf? Use approximately 1-1.5 teaspoons for each tea bag, then strain it at the end. For extra mango flavor, swap in mango black tea. You can also reduce the amount of caffeine by opting for green tea or white tea.
- Simple Syrup - Forgot to make it ahead of time? No worries. Add ¼ cup of white sugar to the pot with the hot black tea and stir to dissolve. Next, add an extra ¼ cup of cold water to the mix. Voila!
- Mango Nectar - You’re welcome to swap in regular mango juice, but it won’t be quite as sweet if you do.
How To Make Mango Iced Tea
This fruity sweet tea comes together in just a few simple steps:
Step 1: Steep. Tie the teabags together and remove the paper tags. Steep in the hot water for 5 minutes, dunking the bags a few times to speed up the process. Remove the tea bags, gently squeezing leftover tea before discarding.
Step 2: Mix the warm tea with the cold water in a serving pitcher.
Step 3: Add the mango nectar and the simple syrup.
Step 4: Stir to combine.
Step 5: Pour the mango iced tea over a glass of ice, or put in the fridge to chill for later. Garnish with fresh mint and/or fresh mango slices if you like. Enjoy!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Reduced-Caffeine - You have a few options here. Either swap in a less-caffeinated variety of tea (e.g. decaf black tea, or regular green tea or white tea) ~OR~ cold brew your tea by leaving the tea bags in cool water for 12-24 hours. Cold brew tea generally has just 35-80% as much caffeine as the hot steeping method; the longer you leave it to steep, the stronger it becomes.
- Caffeine-Free - For a brighter, more tart, and reddish mango tea, swap in hibiscus tea bags.
- Reduced-Sugar - While there will still be a bit of naturally occurring sugar in the mix, swap in your favorite cup-for-cup sugar alternative to make your simple syrup and opt for mango juice instead of mango nectar. For an even further reduction, you can use diet mango juice.
🍹 Serving Suggestions
Mango iced tea is delicious on its own, but these fun ideas can take your sipping experience to the next level:
- Chill it in a frozen glass for maximum refreshment. It’s a small step that makes a big difference—especially on hot summer days.
- Serve it in a punch bowl or drink dispenser at your next party or BBQ. Add fresh mango slices, orange rounds, and sprigs of mint to dress it up.
- Make a Mango Palmer by replacing the cold water with homemade lemonade.
- Spike it for happy hour with a splash of vodka, bourbon, or dark rum. It’s an easy upgrade that turns this tropical tea into a breezy cocktail.
- Add a little fizz by topping each glass with soda water for a mango iced tea spritz.
- Pour it into mason jars with plenty of ice and a striped paper straw for a cute, rustic presentation.
- Make it a slushie by blending the tea with ice. Great for kids, poolside sipping, or anyone who loves a frozen treat.
- Top it off with a swirl of coconut milk or coconut cream for a creamy, dreamy twist that tastes like a beach vacation.
Recipe Success Tips
- Don’t over-steep your tea. For bold flavor without bitterness, brew black tea for 3–5 minutes max. Any longer and the tannins can turn your drink overly astringent.
- Start with hot water. Always use freshly boiled water to extract the full flavor from your tea leaves or bags.
- Shock it with ice water. Once the tea concentrate is brewed, pour it over ice-cold water or a full cup of ice. This locks in flavor and prevents the tea from going cloudy.
- Give your used tea bags a second life. Don’t toss those tea bags just yet! Black tea bags are surprisingly useful around the house, in your beauty routine, and even in the garden. Here are just a few ideas:
- Deodorize naturally: Dry used tea bags and tuck them into shoes, garbage bins, closets, or your fridge to absorb odors.
- Degrease & clean: Soak dirty pans or use damp tea bags to scrub away stubborn grease and grime from dishes and glass.
- Polish & shine: Gently rub moist tea bags on wooden furniture or leather shoes to restore their luster, then buff with a soft cloth.
- Depuff eyes: Chill used bags and place them over your eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
- Soothe skin: Apply to bug bites, minor burns, or rashes for quick relief—black tea’s tannins help reduce inflammation.
- Hair rinse: Use cooled black tea as a final hair rinse to boost shine and help reduce shedding.
- Retain soil moisture: Place used tea bags at the bottom of potted plants to help soil retain water.
- Start seeds: Use damp tea bags to sprout seeds indoors before planting them in soil.
- Repel pests: Scatter dried tea bags around your garden to help deter insects and rodents naturally.
FAQs
I sure think so! The sweet, juicy flavor of mango helps smooth out the sharpness of tea’s tannins—the compounds that make your tongue feel dry after a sip.
If you make it with black tea bags as instructed below, yes. Hop up to the “optional variations” section for ideas on how to reduce or eliminate the caffeine if needed.
It depends on the type of tea you use, but cold brewed tea typically has just 35-80% the amount of hot brewed tea.
Mango Iced Tea Nutrition
Each serving of this summery sweet tea is about 80 calories—that’s roughly ⅔ the amount in a can of pop. Unsurprisingly, all of those calories come from sugar—there are 20 grams of sugar-based carbs per glass. As a clear, dairy-free drink, there’s no protein or fat to speak of, and just a measly 7 milligrams of sodium per serving.
While it is a bit of a treat, this mango iced tea is made with real ingredients—no mystery additives or artificial sweeteners here. You’re also welcome to reduce the sugar content using the instructions under “optional variations” above. That’s the benefit of making café drinks yourself: you control exactly what goes in, and what stays out.
Furthermore, black tea is rich in antioxidants like theaflavins and thearubigins, which may help support heart health, improve cholesterol levels, and boost metabolism. It also contains a moderate amount of caffeine, offering a gentle energy lift without the jitters of coffee.
Like any sweetened drink, it’s best enjoyed in moderation. Sip and savor it, and aim to balance your hydration by choosing water or unsweetened beverages for the rest of the day.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 79 calories
- Total Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Sodium: 7 mg
- Carbohydrates: 20 grams
- Sugar: 20 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Homemade Iced Tea Recipes
Easy Mango Iced Tea
Equipment
- 1 medium saucepan
- 1 large pitcher
Ingredients
- 12 black tea bags (I used Lipton)
- 4 cups boiling water
- 2 cups cold water
- 3 cups mango nectar
- ½ cup simple syrup
- mint leaves and/or mango slices optional for garnish
Instructions
- Remove the tea bags from the box and tie them together, then clip the paper tags off.
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove from heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes. After steep time, remove the tea bags, allowing the tea to drip out of them before discarding them.
- Pour the warm tea into a large pitcher, then pour in 2 cups of cold water. Add the mango nectar and simple syrup, then stir. Allow the mixture to cool before serving.
- Once cooled, pour the peach tea over ice, then garnish with mint leaves and/or mango slices if desired. Drink up!
Notes
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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