Unsweet Tea Recipe

Bring water to a boil

Measure 8 cups of cold water and bring to a rolling boil in a kettle or large saucepan.

Steep tea

Place 6 black tea bags into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags. Cover the pitcher or loosely lay a lid on it to retain heat and steep for 5 to 7 minutes for medium strength. For stronger tea steep up to 10 minutes. Avoid steeping much longer to prevent excessive bitterness.

Remove tea bags

After steeping, carefully remove and discard the tea bags, gently pressing them against the side of the pitcher with a spoon for a second to get the last bit of brew (do not squeeze hard or will increase bitterness).

Cool to room temperature

Let the brewed tea sit at room temperature until no longer hot, about 20 to 30 minutes. This prevents excessive dilution when adding ice and makes chilling faster.

Chill

Place the pitcher uncovered in the refrigerator and chill until cold, about 1 to 2 hours. If you need it sooner, fill a large serving pitcher with ice and pour the warm tea over the ice to rapidly cool it (note: this will dilute slightly).

Serve

Fill glasses with ice (about 1/2 to 1 cup ice per 12-16 oz glass). Pour the chilled unsweet tea over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice or a sprig of mint if desired. Serve immediately.

Storage

Store leftover unsweet tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Stir or shake gently before serving if components have settled.