Iced Tea Bar Ideas for a Party

This refreshing beverage bar will WOW your guests with it’s variety and customization! Guests can make their own flavored iced tea drinks and cocktails, and the flexibility is what makes this such a great idea for entertaining and fun activity for guests.

Why You’ll Love It

An interactive beverage station is a great way to welcome guests, get them active, and generate conversation.

• This ice tea station has a relaxed vibe with party décor and styling that you can add to summer entertaining at home.
• This would also be a terrific way to celebrate a birthday, host a mother’s day party with your mom friends, or a fun twist on tea party ideas. 
• Creating a cool iced tea bar for an outdoor girls gathering is the perfect way to celebrate friendship.
• Coordinate this beverage bar with a colorful summer tablescape, or incorporate it into a southern style dinner party.

Party Iced Tea Bar

Set up a gorgeous bar with all the accoutrements you need to make delicious flavored tea drinks. An outdoor setting like this one is perfect for a garden party.

Pour cold tea into a serving pitcher, add a simple sign for the table, and offer at least 3 juice varieties so guests have options. Don’t forget the fresh mint or mint simple syrup!

Pour fruit juice into flip top bottles or carafes so guests can help themselves and add their flavor of choice.

Provide garnishes of fresh fruit in small bowls. Set the bowls in front of the corresponding juice to help indicate each flavor.

Use interesting glassware if you’ve got it. Using traditional Moroccan tea glasses for this iced tea bar adds a charming touch.

Make a lovely floral centerpiece with less than $30 worth of flowers. I made this one with two bunches of “farmer’s blend” flowers, and one bunch of greenery and it turned out beautiful!

Provide some spirits in decanters on the side so guests can make a cocktail if they want. Bourbon and rum are delicious paired with tea. See this bourbon iced tea cocktail for a great recipe.

For an extra thoughtful touch make frozen juice pops. Freeze the juices into ice pop molds up to a week ahead. You can add them to drinks to keep them cold and flavorful as it melts.

Another idea for the party is to provided some individual bottles of Snapple Green Tea for guests to grab as they like. These are delicious and go really well with food.

Checklist

• Iced Tea. Make my easy homemade recipe a day ahead. Include a lightly sweetened option as well as an unsweetened option. As a substitute you can purchase prepared iced tea from the grocery store.
• Lemonade. Use prepared lemonade from the soda aisle. I like the brand Country Time, but use your favorite.
• Orange flavored juice. Orange drinks or soda give your beverage a smooth finish. If you want to use orange juice instead, make sure it’s pulp free.
• Strawberry flavored juice. Strawberry flavored juice drinks are typically found in the juice aisle and you’re probably more familiar with it as a kids drink.
• Peach nectar or mango nectar. Find juice nectar in cans in the Mexican section of the international aisle. They add great concentrated flavor.
• Alcohol. Bourbon is the crowd favorite but dark or spiced rum is also tasty with tea.
• Specialty liqueurs. Ginger liqueur such as Domaine de Canton, and Elderflower liqueur like St. Germain are terrific additions for more complex taste.
• Mint simple syrup

Garnishes

• Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries.
• Fruit such as sliced oranges, lemons, strawberries, peaches, cucumber, cherries, mangos.
• Edible flowers to garnish with.
• Herbs like mint, lavender or thyme.
• Homemade juice pops.

Supplies & Décor

• Tea Bar Sign, print or calligraphy
• Glasses 
• Pitchers 
• Flip top bottles or carafes to hold juices
• Small bowls to hold fruit 
• Table or bar cart 
• Bucket of ice and tongs or scoop to grab the ice
• Paper straws
• Beverage napkins 
• Bar spoon to stir
• Flowers to decorate the bar

How to Make Your Drink

The key is to experiment with different variations and find the right balance for you.

• Add ice or flavored ice pop to glass; Fill about 3/4 full with unsweetened or mildly sweet tea.
• Choose a flavor of juice to fill the glass; Leave room for adding rum or bourbon if desired.
• Garnish with fresh fruit, mint, and serve.

Expert Tips

• Use black tea family size bags, or substitute with regular size bags.
• Keep in mind, for Luzianne brand 4 individual tea bags equals 1 family size.
• For Lipton brand, 3 individual bags equals 1 family size bag.
• Remember that the juices will add sweetness, so start with unsweetened tea for a lighter drink, or use lightly sweetened tea for more sweetness. It’s up to you!

How to Make Tea

Here’s an easy iced tea recipe you can make ahead. Make a double batch for a crowd, or make one batch sweet and another batch unsweet.

1. Add 4 cups of water to a medium sauce pan over high heat, and bring to a boil.
2. Add 2 family size tea bags and remove from heat. Let it steep for 12 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags and discard. Stir in ¼ to ⅓ cup of sugar if desired and let the tea cool completely.
4. Add tea to a pitcher and pour in 4 more cups of cold water and stir. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

FAQ

More Beverage Bar Ideas

• Bourbon Bar
• Lemonade Bar 
• Iced Coffee Bar
• Ice Cream Soda Bar

I hope you got some fun ideas for creating your own delicious and tasty iced tea bar! Let me know if you make one by leaving a comment below.