Iced Tea (sweet Or Unsweet) Recipe

Time1h 30m

Serves8

Make Iced Tea (sweet Or Unsweet) Recipe in just 1h 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Bring water to a boil
Pour 8 cups of water into a kettle or saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.
2
Steep the tea
Place 6 black tea bags (or the equivalent amount of loose tea in an infuser) into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the 8 cups of just-boiled water over the tea. Cover the pitcher and steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a standard-strength iced tea, or 8 to 10 minutes for a stronger brew. Avoid steeping longer than 10 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
3
Remove tea bags
After steeping, remove and discard the tea bags or remove the infuser. Do not squeeze tea bags aggressively, as that can add bitterness.

4
Make simple syrup
If preparing sweet iced tea, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup hot water in a heatproof measuring cup or small saucepan. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved to make a simple syrup. Let it cool slightly (2–3 minutes).
5
Add sweetener to hot tea
While the brewed tea is still hot (warm), stir in the prepared simple syrup until fully incorporated. Mixing while warm ensures the sweetener disperses evenly. If you prefer lighter sweetness, start with half the syrup (1/2 cup sugar + 1/2 cup hot water) and add more to taste after chilling.

6
Dilute and cool
Add 6 cups of cold water to the pitcher to dilute the concentrate to drinking strength. Stir to combine. Transfer the pitcher to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour, or until cold.
7
Serve over ice
Fill serving glasses with ice (about 3/4 full). Pour chilled tea over the ice. Garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs if desired. For unsweetened tea, omit the simple syrup steps entirely. Taste and adjust sweetness by stirring in additional syrup or sugar dissolved in a bit of hot water, as needed.
8
Storage
Store leftover iced tea, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir well before serving if separation occurs.