The sunny days of summer have arrived! When the temperature rises, nothing quenches thirst better than something cool and fruity. Enter watermelon tea. Bursting with sweet, refreshing flavor, watermelon tea delivers the perfect cooldown in a glass. One sip instantly transports you poolside with shades on.
This vibrant pink tea explodes with juicy watermelon essence, balanced out by grassy undertones from green, white, black or herbal tea bases. Chilling this summery sip over ice makes it endlessly easy to enjoy. In this post, we’ll highlight everything you need to know about crafting delicious watermelon tea recipes to get your fruit fix. Let’s dive in!
About Watermelon Tea
Watermelon tea earns its name from having the rich, succulent flavor of ripe watermelon melons. While you can make watermelon tea using actual watermelon juice or fruit, most versions rely on watermelon essence or syrup to infuse that distinctive sweet-tart taste into tea.
When blended into brisk black tea, oolong, or herbal tea, the watermelon flavor really pops. The melon sweetness offsets the bitter tannins. Iced green and white teas also pair perfectly with the watery fruit accents. That signature watermelon aroma will transport you to summer immediately!
No matter what base you choose, watermelon tea delivers a fun fuschia pink color. The happy hue looks right at home poolside with flashy floats. Watermelon tea can be enjoyed freshly brewed hot or poured over ice to chill – both offer thirst-quenching magic.
Benefits of Drinking Watermelon Tea
Beyond tasting like an instant trip to paradise, watermelon tea boasts some nice health perks from its fruit essence. Here’s a look at some of the positives of sipping this summery sipper:
Antioxidant Powerhouse
Watermelon contains the antioxidants lycopene and vitamin C to neutralize free radicals and inflammation in the body. This supports immunity and heart health.
Anti-Inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory activity of watermelon may help reduce muscle soreness, joint pain, and even risks of certain cancers linked to chronic inflammation.
Heart Health
Watermelon’s citrulline content helps dilate blood vessels to potentially lower blood pressure. Its lycopene also reduces arterial plaque buildup.
Hydration
With its high water content, watermelon tea helps hydrate the body and skin better than plain water. It replenishes fluids lost sweating in the sun.
Muscle Recovery
Some research indicates watermelon’s citrulline aids workout recovery by reducing muscle soreness. The electrolytes also replace what’s lost sweating.
Skin Health
Antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin A in watermelon protect skin from sun damage and wrinkle formation to maintain a youthful glow.
Cancer Prevention
The combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits may help lower risks for certain cancers impacted by oxidative stress and inflammation.
Digestion and Gut Health
With nearly 1 gram of fiber per cup, watermelon provides bulk for regular bowel movements and feeding your gut microbiome.
Metabolism and Weight Loss
Its amino acid citrulline helps remove waste like ammonia from the body, supporting the liver’s fat-burning abilities.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Some compounds in watermelon may inhibit starch absorption, helping maintain balanced blood sugar levels after carb-heavy meals.
Mood Booster
Watermelon tea’s refreshing tartness paired with the nostalgic scent of summer makes it an instant mood elevator perfect for patio sipping.
Making Refreshing Watermelon Tea
While you can purchase pre-made watermelon tea bags, mixing your own blends using syrups, juices, or actual fruit allows you to customize sweetness and strength. Here are some ideas:
Tea Bags
For easy steeping, pre-packaged watermelon tea bags infuse convenient flavor. Brew for 5-7 minutes in hot water, iced, or overnight for cold brew.
Herbal Teas
Bring out the sweetness by infusing watermelon juice or simple syrup into mild herbal bases like hibiscus, rooibos, or chamomile.
Muddled Melon
Lightly muddle fresh watermelon chunks then steep with green or white tea for the most authentic fruity essence. Strain before drinking.
Sliced Fruit
For iced tea, add watermelon cubes or slices to already brewed tea for a hydrating fruit-filled glass. Refrigerate to infuse flavor.
Syrups and Essences
Commercially made watermelon syrups and essences offer concentrated convenience. Add to taste in tea or lemonade for bursts of flavor.
Complementary Ingredients
Liven up your watermelon tea with sprigs of mint, slices of cucumber, grated ginger, or a squeeze of lime or lemon juice.
Sweeteners
Balance and brighten watermelon tea’s flavor with drizzles of honey, agave nectar, simple syrup, or ordinary sugar to taste.
Hot or Cold
Enjoy freshly steeped hot in the morning, transition to iced by afternoon, then blend into frozen pops for dessert! Watermelon tea excels any way.
Mocktails and Cocktails
For boozy fun, blend watermelon tea with rum, vodka, tequila or champagne! Or keep it PG mixed with lemonade or lime for “watermelon Arnold Palmers.”
Smoothies
Take your watermelon tea experience portable by blending with Greek yogurt, ice, and other fruit for hydrating and protein-packed summer smoothies.
Pairings
Treat watermelon tea as the perfect complement to fresh fruit plates, sandwiches, salads and lighter cakes and cookies. It balances sweetness.
Tips for Enjoying Watermelon Tea
To make the most of watermelon tea all season long, keep these pro tips in mind:
Brew Strong Tea
Choose robust black or herbal tea bases that can balance out the melon’s sweetness. Opt for bolder green teas like sencha.
In-Season Melons
For the truest flavor, make watermelon tea during peak melon season in summer when they’re ripe and juicy.
Iced to Perfection
Showcase watermelon tea’s charm by pouring over loads of ice. Brew tea extra strong to allow for dilution.
Infused Overnight
Maximize flavor and refreshment by infusing watermelon in cold water for 12+ hours in the fridge (sun tea style!).
Adorn with Garnishes
Make your watermelon tea Instagram-worthy with fun add-ins like melon wedges, flower blossoms, or basil.
Hydrate Responsibly
Watermelon tea contains natural sugars. Enjoy in moderation and stay hydrated with regular water too on hot days.
Big Batching
Whip up large quantities of watermelon tea to serve crowds at barbecues, birthday bashes or weddings.
Add Bubbles or Liquor
For a fun twist, top off your watermelon tea with champagne, sodas, or spike with vodka or rum for summery cocktails!
Blender Magic
Frozen watermelon tea concentrate blends perfectly into margaritas, daiquiris, sangria and more for instant party drinks.
Dessert Inspiration
Infuse watermelon tea into ice pops, granita, or use as the soaking liquid for cakes and fruit salads.
Watermelon Tea Recipes to Try
Want to get sipping? Here are creative ways to put watermelon tea on your menu:
Watermelon Black Tea Lemonade
An iconic combo! Mix strong brewed black tea with watermelon syrup and lemonade over ice.
Sparkling Watermelon Oolong Cooler
Fancy bubbles transform oolong tea sweetened with watermelon essence into a spa-worthy treat.
Watermelon White Tea with Ginger and Mint
Soothing white tea gets a zing of ginger and mint to accent the melon.
Iced Hibiscus Watermelon Tea
Tart hibiscus and sweet watermelon pair perfectly in this stunning ruby-hued iced tea.
Muddled Melon Green Tea
Lightly muddle fresh watermelon then steep with nutty genmaicha green tea for a chunky brew.
Watermelon Tea Spritzer
Juice up your watermelon black tea with lemon juice, mint, and agave for a fizzy, fruit-kissed spritzer.
Minty Melon Green Tea Smoothie
Blend watermelon juice and matcha green tea into a yogurt smoothie with ice, honey, and fresh mint.
Vodka Watermelon Tea Cocktail
Mix chilled brewed black tea with watermelon vodka, lemonade, and a slice of fresh melon to garnish.
Peach Watermelon Iced Tea
Peach and watermelon are BFFs! Blend peachy oolong with watermelon syrup for sweet fruitiness.
Coconut Water Infused Watermelon Tea
Hydrate to the max by steeping watermelon herbal tea in nutty coconut water.
Pomegranate Watermelon Tea Spritzer
Double the antioxidants by blending ruby red pomegranate juice with watermelon black tea and a squeeze of lime.
Pineapple Watermelon Tea with Rum
Tropical flavors unite! Mix pineapple juice with watermelon tea and white rum over ice.
Mango Watermelon Tea Lassi
Blend mango, watermelon chunks, and Assam tea with Greek yogurt and ice for a savory smoothie.
Raspberry Watermelon Tea Pops
Freeze black tea sweetened with raspberry syrup and watermelon essence into fruit tea pops.
Watermelon Jasmine Tea Granita
Steep floral jasmine tea with watermelon overnight then freeze into slushy granita.
Spiked Watermelon Thai Tea
Amp up Thai tea’s flavors with watermelon and your favorite white liquor served over ice.
Stay Cool with Watermelon Tea
When the temperature climbs, beat the heat with chilled glasses of watermelon tea. Infusing juicy melon essence into your favorite black, green, or herbal teas instantly transports you poolside thanks to its sunny colors and fruity aroma. Sip your way through summer by mixing up different combinations. Just add ice! We hope these recipes and tips inspire your own refreshing spins on watermelon tea. Here’s to sunshine and fruit-flavored sipping!