Peach & Oolong Iced Tea with Elderflower Tonic

This elegant sparkling iced tea marries the floral, stone-fruit sweetness of oolong tea with a hint of elderflower tonic and fresh peach. Instead of relying on pre-sweetened, shop-bought sparkling teas, you'll cold-brew your own concentrate, sweeten it lightly with elderflower, then carbonate it at home using a home carbonator. The result is crisp, refreshing, and far less sugary than anything off the shelf—perfect for UK summer afternoons when you want something more sophisticated than squash but lighter than cocktails.

Cold-brewing oolong for iced tea keeps the flavour sweet and smooth, without the bitterness that can creep in when you chill hot-brewed tea. A light, floral oolong—such as a Taiwanese high-mountain or a Jin Xuan (often called milk oolong)—works beautifully here; the natural honey and peach notes complement real fruit and elderflower. Once you've cold-brewed your base, you'll blend it with ripe peach and a splash of elderflower tonic, then run the whole lot through your soda maker for that satisfying fizz. It's a simple technique that elevates homemade iced tea into something truly special.