Nestea Recipe

Bring water to a boil

Pour 4 cups of water into a medium saucepan or kettle and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

Steep the tea

Remove from heat, add 4 black tea bags (or 4 teaspoons loose leaf in an infuser). Let steep 5 minutes for a full-bodied flavor (6 minutes if you prefer stronger). Do not over-steep more than 7 minutes to avoid excessive bitterness.

Remove tea bags or strain out leaves and discard. You now have a hot tea concentrate (about 4 cups).

Make a simple syrup to sweeten and help dissolve evenly: In a heatproof measuring cup combine 1/4 cup hot water and 1 cup granulated sugar. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves. If you prefer a lighter sweetness, reduce sugar to 3/4 cup.

While the brewed tea is still warm, pour in the simple syrup and stir to combine thoroughly. Taste and adjust: add more syrup for sweeter tea or add 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice for brightness.

Dilute the sweetened tea concentrate: Pour the tea mixture into a pitcher and add 4 cups cold water. Stir to combine. This yields a balanced iced tea (about 8 cups total). If you like stronger iced tea, use 3 cups cold water instead.

Chill: Refrigerate the pitcher for at least 30 minutes to cool thoroughly, or serve immediately over ice for quick service.

To serve: Fill glasses with ice (about 1 cup ice per 8 oz glass). Pour the Nestea over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a mint sprig if desired. Optionally stir in 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice per glass for extra tang.

Storage: Keep leftover tea refrigerated in a covered container for up to 3 days. Stir before serving as separation may occur.