Passion Fruit Iced Tea is so easy to make with only 4 ingredients! Jam-like consistency, crunchy seeds, and the tropical aroma of passion fruit are unfamiliar to many people. But with its sweet-tart flavor, this fruit pairs well with many ingredients.
I am lucky enough to have friends in my neighborhood with an abundance of passion fruit growing in their backyard.
They handed me a large bag full of ripe passion fruit and asked me to come up with some delicious recipes!
I remember seeing a passion fruit iced tea at Starbucks, so I know the flavor profile would work. Instead of making a copycat Starbucks passion fruit iced tea, I wanted to keep the beautiful color of the fresh fruit.
I scooped out the passion fruit with a spoon and placed the pulp and seeds in a strainer nesting over a bowl to collect the juice. Using the backside of a spoon, I pressed the pulp to get more juice.
Passion fruit juice is refreshing but tart and sour tasting. Sweeteners like honey, sugar, or maple syrup are good for balancing the flavors. I love how this recipe comes together in just 10 minutes!
I admit to being a newbie with passion fruit, but I love how tropical and refreshing this wrinkly fruit is. I bet it would make an awesome cocktail too! Speaking of summer cocktails, you must try my Strawberry Margaritas on The Rocks.
Jump to:
What is passion fruit?
Passion fruit grows on a vine in tropical regions of South America. Places like Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina use passion fruit in their cuisine.
Passion fruit has a deep purple/red color when picked. When the skin wrinkles, the fruit is ripe and ready to eat. With a tart flavor, a touch of honey or maple syrup is recommended.
How to use passion fruit
Passion fruit has a thick-yellow look on the inside that can be scooped out with a spoon.
Strain the pulp and seeds through a fine-mesh sieve, just like in the photo below. You can reserve the seeds for garnish or toss them out. I like to press the pulp with a spoon or ladle to squeeze out all of the juice.
Passion fruit is perfect in refreshing drinks, sauces, and desserts. Try my passion fruit ice cream for a tropical treat.
Ingredients
Here is a list of everything you will need to make passion fruit iced tea! (Only 4 ingredients)
- Passion Fruit - the perfect passion fruit is plump and deep purple or red color. The more wrinkles the fruit has, the sweeter it will taste.
- Honey - any sweetener will work but we chose honey to make it Paleo!
- Orange Peel - adds more citrus flavor and aroma
- Green Tea - you can also use black tea in this recipe, keep in mind black tea is higher in caffeine.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make passion fruit iced tea
Making this refreshing passion fruit iced tea is so easy, here's how to make it!
Step 1: Steep green tea bags in water with the orange peel. Remove the tea bags and orange peel and add honey.
Step 2: Cut passion fruits in half and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Place in a fine mesh sieve to strain out the seeds.
Equipment
Storage
You can refrigerate ripe passion fruit in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze it for 3 months. Freezing Instructions: Scoop out the pulp and place it into an airtight container or freezer bag.
Chef Tips
- You can make the tea ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. Before serving, add the passion fruit juice to keep it nice and fresh.
- Passion fruit puree or juice are sold in most grocery stores if you can't friend fresh passion fruit.
- Jazz up your iced tea by using cocktail glasses and garnishing with fresh limes and mint!
Frequently Asked Questions
Passion fruit and green tea are high in antioxidants that help remove free radicals in the body.
Passion fruit doesn't have any caffeine, but green tea does. If you want to make this recipe caffeine-free, use decaffeinated tea.
Add Tazo passion fruit tea bags to hot water and steep for a few minutes. Remove the tea bags and add ice, honey, limes juice, mint, and fresh berries. Tazo passionfruit tea bags have hibiscus flowers. That's why the tea has a purple/red color.
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📖 Recipe
Passion Fruit Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 4 cups hot water 175°F
- 3 green tea bags
- ½ cup honey
- 1 orange peel use a vegetable peeler to remove orange peel
- 1 cup passion fruit juice about 6-8 passion fruits
Instructions
- Steep tea bags in 4 cups of hot water (175° F) for 2 minutes.
- Add honey and orange peel and stir. Place into the refrigerator until cool.
- Cut the passion fruits in half and scoop out the pulp and seeds. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to collect the juice. Reserve seeds for garnish.
- Combine the passion fruit juice with the tea mixture and pour it into a glass over ice. Garnish with fresh mint and lime slices.
Notes
- Steeping green tea for longer than 2 minutes can make your iced tea bitter.
- Passion fruit is ripe when the skin looks wrinkly and purple.
- If you can't find fresh passion fruit, look for frozen puree or pulp at the store.
- You can freeze fresh passion fruit pulp for 3 months.
mikecleavenger says
I feel like passion fruit is a forgotten ingredient. The flavor is so refreshing and packed with tropical aromas. I am very pleased with the flavor of this iced tea recipe.