Gold Peak® Real Brewed Iced Tea Recipe

Brew the tea

Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and add 8 black tea bags (or 8 tsp loose-leaf in an infuser). Steep for 5 minutes for a balanced, full-bodied brew (steep up to 7 minutes for stronger flavor). Avoid over-steeping more than 8 minutes to prevent bitterness.

Remove tea and cool slightly

Remove tea bags or strain out loose tea. Gently press tea bags against the side of the pot with a spoon to extract flavor (do not squeeze aggressively to avoid bitterness). Let the brewed tea cool 10–15 minutes at room temperature.

Dilute with cold water

Pour the brewed tea into a large pitcher and add 4 cups cold water to reach about 12 cups of tea. Stir to combine. This dilution mirrors the strength of bottled real-brewed iced tea.

Sweeten the tea

While the tea is still warm (but not boiling), add 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Alternatively, add 4 tablespoons simple syrup for easier mixing. Taste and adjust: add more sugar or syrup 1 tablespoon at a time if you prefer sweeter tea. For unsweetened, omit entirely.

Add lemon and chill

Stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to the pitcher. Refrigerate the tea at least 1–2 hours until thoroughly chilled. If you need it quickly, pour over a large pitcher of ice to cool immediately (note: this will dilute slightly).

Serve

Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour chilled tea over ice, garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint if desired. Serve cold.

Storage

Store any leftover tea in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir or shake before serving if separation occurs. Do not freeze.