The Viral “Peaches & Cream” Tea Is How I’m Holding Onto Summer (Honestly, It’s Magical)

Few things are better than fresh peaches in the summertime. I love to stock up on a big bag at the farmers market when they’re in season and make a quick cobbler for dessert (add a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on top, and I’m in heaven). 

As fall rolls around and cooler weather takes the place of hot summer days, that doesn’t mean that we have to fully let go of peach season — especially with this latest viral drink. Introducing “Peaches & Cream Tea.” After seeing it circulate on TikTok, I was curious to put it to the test to see if the drink really lived up to the hype.

To make the drink, you’re going to need canned (or jarred) peaches in their natural juices, black tea bags, water, vanilla extract, and your milk of choice. 

First, grab a large Mason jar (or other vessel) to steep your tea in. Place a few of the canned peach slices in the bottom, then pour some of the juice it comes in on top. I poured just enough to cover the peaches (roughly one third of the jar). With a wooden spoon, muddle the peach slices and juice so they break up a bit. (You can also blend the peaches in their juice if you don’t want whole chunks.) 

Next, add in a few black tea bags and pour over some boiling water; allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong of a brew you want. (Based on the size of my Mason jar, I used three English Breakfast tea bags and brewed it for 10 minutes.) Then take the tea bags out, and add a splash of vanilla extract. 

Take a separate smaller glass, add a few more peach slices in the bottom (you can skip this step if you want), add some ice, and pour over the tea you just brewed. Finally, add a splash of your milk of choice (I used oat), and enjoy! 

I love freshly brewed iced tea, although I tend to lean towards citrus flavors or hibiscus. If I’m drinking black tea it’s rare for me to put milk in it (unless I’m having a chai latte), so I was curious to see if I’d like this one. 

After I finished brewing the tea with the sliced peaches, I decided to taste some on its own before adding the “cream.” The peach juice acts as the simple syrup, and adds just enough sweetness while not diluting the peach flavor. It wasn’t overpoweringly sweet, which I enjoyed. But the addition of the oat milk really took this drink to the next level.

It tasted like peach cobbler with ice cream in drink form! The creaminess of the oat milk really gives you that peach cobbler vibe and makes the vanilla flavor pop. It’s a perfect end-of-summer drink, but thankfully can be enjoyed all year long. 

• Add some citrus: For extra-zesty flavor, add a squeeze of lemon, lime, orange, or even grapefruit juice. 
• Use peach tea bags: To really amp up the peach flavor, brew the mixture with peach tea instead of black tea. This variety from teapigs also has mango in it and is meant for cold brew, so there’s no need to boil the water! 
• Swap in other canned fruits: Because canned fruits are always in season, you can switch up this recipe with whatever feeds your fancy. Try pineapple, pears, cherries, or mandarin oranges for a different flavor combo.