Summertime is the perfect time to reach for a cool, refreshing drink, but that drink often comes with a lot of extra sugar.  Want to have a nice, cold drink on a hot day without the empty calories?  Why not try making your own flavored iced tea?  Here are four of my favorite flavors.

1.  Guava Green Tea

Sweet guava blends beautifully with earthy green tea.  Just add 1 1/2 cups boiling water and one green tea bag to a pint mason jar and steep the tea for 10 minutes.  Remove the tea bag and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.  Once the tea is cool, add enough guava nectar to fill the jar.  Screw on the lid and chill the tea until it is nice and cold, or pour over plenty of ice to enjoy right away.

2.  Sweet Mint Iced Tea

Black tea, fresh mint, and just a hint of sugar make this iced tea variation the perfect summer drink.  Place one black tea bag, one large sprig (two small sprigs) of fresh mint, and one tablespoon of white sugar in a pint mason jar.  Fill the jar with boiling water and allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes.  Remove the tea bag, but let the mint steep until the tea comes to room temperature.  Remove the mint, cover the jar and refrigerate until cold, or serve immediately over ice.

3.  Honey-Ginger Green Tea

For a spicy twist on a classic combination, add about one inch of sliced ginger root to a pint mason jar with one green tea bag and one tablespoon of honey.  Fill the jar with boiling water and steep for 10 minutes.  Remove the tea bag and let the ginger steep until the tea comes to room temperature.  Remove the ginger, cover the jar and refrigerate until cold, or serve immediately over ice.

4.  Ginger-Peach Iced Tea

Ginger-peach tea is one of my all-time favorite tea flavors.  For this lightly sweet version, add one inch of sliced ginger and a black tea bag to a pint mason jar, then add 1 1/2 cups of boiling water.  Let the tea steep for 10 minutes, then remove the tea bag and let the ginger continue to steep until the tea comes to room temperature.  Remove the ginger and add enough peach nectar to fill the jar.  Cover and refrigerate until cold, or serve immediately over ice.

Of course, there are endless variations to choose from.  What are some of your favorite flavors of iced tea?