🌿 Lemon Balm and Honey Iced Tea with Cucumber Slices
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Cool, calming, and made for garden moments
📜 Introduction: Rooted, Present, and Honest
Some drinks feel like an exhale. This is one of them.
Lemon balm — with its soft citrus scent and calming properties — makes the perfect base for a simple herbal iced tea. Add a little honey for sweetness and fresh cucumber slices for a cooling finish, and you’ve got a drink that nourishes both body and spirit.
It’s refreshing without being sharp, sweet without being syrupy, and endlessly soothing. Whether you’re sipping it after working in the garden or serving it at a summer gathering, this herbal tea invites slowness and grace with every glass.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Uses fresh herbs from your garden (or windowsill!)
- Naturally calming and caffeine-free
- Lightly sweetened with honey — no refined sugar
- Cucumber adds a gentle cooling effect for hot afternoons
- Lovely for garden gatherings or quiet porch moments
⏱ Quick Reference Snapshot
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Steep Time: 15–20 minutes
- Chill Time: 1–2 hours (or overnight)
- Total Time: ~1 hr 30 mins
- Servings: 4–6
- Dietary Info: Caffeine-free, naturally sweetened
Key Ingredients at a Glance:
- Fresh lemon balm
- Raw honey
- Cucumber slices
- Optional: lemon or mint
🧺 Ingredients
- 1 large handful fresh lemon balm leaves (about ½–¾ cup packed)
- 4 cups boiling water
- 2–3 Tbsp raw honey (adjust to taste)
- ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
- Optional: lemon slices, fresh mint, or a pinch of sea salt
- Ice, for serving
👩🍳 Instructions
Brew the Tea:
- Gently rinse your lemon balm leaves and place them in a heat-safe pitcher or large mason jar.
- Pour 4 cups boiling water over the leaves. Cover and let steep for 15–20 minutes.
- Strain out the leaves and stir in honey while still warm. Taste and adjust for sweetness.
🌿 Tip: Covering while steeping helps preserve the gentle essential oils in the lemon balm.
Chill and Serve:
- Let the tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 1–2 hours or until well chilled.
- Before serving, add cucumber slices (and lemon or mint if using).
- Serve over ice, with a sprig of lemon balm or mint for garnish.
🍽 Serving & Pairing Ideas
- Serve as a refreshing drink alongside light garden lunches or snacks
- Pair with herb-infused shortbread, fruit salad, or your favorite summer salad
- Keep a chilled pitcher on hand for afternoons in the garden or to welcome guests
🥡 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Store in a sealed pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Add cucumber and garnish just before serving for best flavor
- Leftover tea can be frozen into ice cubes for a lovely garden touch in water or lemonade
🌱 Final Thoughts & Invitation
This iced tea feels like an invitation to slow down. It’s not complicated, and that’s the point. It’s a recipe that says: you don’t have to do more — you can just be here, sip slowly, and feel held.
If you make it, I’d love to see your version. Tag @southernsoilandsunshine or drop a note below.
Looking for more herbal refreshers? Try:
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