Iced Tea Recipe
Make Iced Tea 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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Iced Tea
Method
Brew and Sweeten
- 1
Bring water to near boiling
Heat 4 cups of water to just under a rolling boil (about 200–205°F / 93–96°C). If you don't have a thermometer, heat until steam rises and bubbles begin to form around the edges.
- 2
Steep tea
Place 4 black tea bags in a heatproof pitcher. Pour the hot water over the tea bags. Let steep for 5 minutes for a standard-strength tea or 7 minutes for a stronger brew. Do not steep longer than 8 minutes to avoid excessive bitterness.
- 3
Add sugar
Remove the tea bags, gently pressing them against the side of the pitcher with a spoon to extract extra flavor (but not so hard as to release bitterness). While the tea is still hot, stir in 4 tablespoons granulated sugar until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust: add 1 tablespoon more sugar if you prefer sweeter iced tea.
Chill, Finish and Serve
- 4
Dilute with cold water
Add 4 cups of cold water to the sweetened tea to bring it to a cooler temperature and extend the volume for serving. Stir to combine.
- 5
Cool to refrigerator temperature
Allow the tea to come to room temperature (about 15–20 minutes) then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until thoroughly chilled. For faster results, place the pitcher in an ice bath and then refrigerate.
- 6
Assemble glasses
Fill serving glasses with ice cubes (about 1 cup ice per glass). Pour chilled tea over the ice, leaving a little room at the top for lemon if using.
- 7
Add lemon and garnish
Stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice into the pitcher or add about 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice per glass to taste. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a mint sprig if desired.
- 8
Serve
Serve immediately while cold. Store leftover iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. If separation occurs, stir before serving.